'80 per cent of Indian MPs can be reached via SMS'

A global study that analyzes social media use in India among parliamentarians has found a meteoric rise in the usage of social networks like Twitter and Facebook by MPs to shape and influence policy in the country over the past year.

The survey conducted in India for the first time, amongst 66 MPs, revealed that the current member use of Twitter, blog and Facebook by parliamentarians outpaces last year's projected three-year growth (Refer chart below).

The study shows that the internet is a key driver in informing and shaping policy issues.

In India, while 60% of the respondents had learnt about a public policy issue for the first time on an online space, 33% of them had changed their position on the issue based on their understanding of the issue on an online platform.

The study also revealed that the digital tools also help the general public in reaching out to and communicating with the policy makers.

As per our survey, while in the rest of world, 44% policy makers can be reached via text messages, in India the count stands at a 78%.

Moreover, about 40% of the policymakers are active, and can be reached, on micro blogging sites like Twitter.

Social networking sites such as Facebook can enable interaction with nearly 51% of the constituents, while YouTube comments are good medium for interaction as well.

Another important finding in the survey reveals that social media such as Twitter's ability to provide news and politics is an important factor in deciding who policy makers choose to follow.

The findings also indicate that the media is the most followed by policymakers whereas legislative colleagues are least followed.