Monday, August 17, 2009

Towns, cities slow to adopt social media

Millions of individuals and businesses consider Facebook and Twitter a must for communicating with friends and customers, but Vermont municipalities just haven't found a good enough reason yet to get on the bandwagon. Some towns, though are using a local social Web site known as Front Porch Forum to be very useful. With Front Porch Forum, people in specific towns or neighborhoods can communicate with each other, announce block parties, warn of car break-ins, ask questions about local services or comment on neighborhood issues. Colchester Town Manager Al Voegele said he uses the site to monitor for problems. Williston and South Burlington also monitor or post comments on Front Porch Forum. Progress seems to be moving slowly, but surely ahead. The Winooski Memorial Library now has both Facebook and Twitter accounts.