This was bound to happen, wondering if a tweet is a legal tool to communicate official policy or decision. I think not as it has to be gazetted and so on before representing official policy.

In this matter PSM is very correct in raising the issues that they have here .

I am no fan of social media , I think many waste precious times on it without any benefits, apart from gossiping and ‘snooping’ on others while at work. Many lose productivity hours sneaking into social media when others are not looking. People who know me say I am it is just sour grapes for me as I do not have any friends.

Regardless, social media should not be used as official channel of government communication, they can be used to enhance message already disseminated but to start at social media is not proper.

There is a trend for government ministers and officers using their personal social media space such as blogs and so on to announce government policy and philosophy. This is fraught with danger as we can’t tell if this is official pronouncement or the personal opinion of the ministers or officers in question. All announcements or pronouncements should be via the official website of the relevant government bodies.

While writing, I wish to add that it is incorrect for government agencies and department to call their communication department ‘corporate communication’ as this is meant for a corporation to communicate their policies and ethos. The government is not a body corporate, they should revert to what they use to use in those days which is ‘public relations’ or ‘public communications’ or even ‘taxpayer relations’.