Use of social media continues to grow and the way it is used changes with every new application designed to grab our attention. We use social media for playing games, keeping ourselves informed about the world and for connecting with people we know. But political conversations are also happening across social media. The challenge for politicians and policy-makers is how to best understand these conversations and how to effectively be part of these discussions online.

This event, organised in collaboration with the WeGov project, will ask how, if at all, social media can inform policy-making and will explore the underlying issues that face this emerging field.

* Personal or public space - how do citizens feel about their views being used by policy-makers without their knowledge?

* Trust - do politicians need to be clearer about what they are using social media for?

* Representativeness - could using social media to inform policy advantage the views of the already privileged?

Chair: Lord Toby Harris

Speakers

* Kevin Brennan MP - Social Media MP of the Year, 2010
* Rory Cellan-Jones - Technology Correspondent, BBC
* Nick Jones - Deputy Director of Digital Communications, Prime Minister's Office & Cabinet Office
* Deborah Mattinson - Director, Britain Thinks
* Nick Pickles - Director, Big Brother Watch

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