How Online Tools Can Get Your Community More Engaged
One of the biggest challenges with civic politics is trying to get the local community engaged in government and in what's happening in the community around them. This is especially true of the younger demographic, the group statistically most unlikely to engage in the local political scene. In fact, according to Pew Research, only 33% of Americans in the 18 to 29-year-old age group get involved in their local political or community group. However, there are ways to increase this participation and online tools are a great way to do it. Here are four ways that online tools can get your community more engaged.
Increase Youth Participation
As mentioned, using online tools like community engagement platforms, video conferencing, forums, and online surveys is a great way to get younger people involved in their community. The youth of today were born to the internet. It's as much a part of their daily life as language, and in a way, it is its own language. According to Pew Research, when online tools are included, participation and communication between younger community members in the 18-29 age demographic increases to 67%.
Increase Accessibility
Online tools allow people with limited mobility a chance to participate in civic politics without having to struggle to be there physically. Online public participation platforms, video conferencing, and other online tools allow those with limited mobility a chance to conveniently participate from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, online tools can help people with other limitations by providing closed captioning or allowing the hearing impaired to connect hearing aids to online audio.
Increase Flexibility
Online tools also provide benefits for those whose work schedules make it impossible for them to physically attend civic meetings. If those meetings are recorded and available online to view any time, people can tune in at their own availability and participate in ways that they were unable to before. The same is true for forums or other platforms where time is less sensitive and people have the flexibility to check in when they can.
Reach More People
Another major benefit of using online tools is the ability to reach more people through social media, email, and other outlets that excel at spreading information through community groups. Not everyone is going to read a physical notice bulletin as they pass it in the city hall. People are much more likely to see information if it's available when scrolling they're through their normal social media feeds.
To learn more about community engagement platforms, contact a company in your area like Stepherson & Associates Communications - InfoCommunity.
