Using Social Media for Diplomacy

As the Obama administration and many other international organizations strive to increase international diplomacy, many are turning to non-traditional media. In order to reach youth across the world, organizations like Alliance for International Education and Cultural Exchange are using social media.

For millions, social media has become the new way of communication and for others it has become a new and effective tool for international diplomacy. Where else can you send messages, share photos, chat and interact with a worldwide community?

Recently Jared Cohen, social media expert on the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff, spoke with NPR about the place of Twitter and other social media in international relations and civil society.

"The main idea behind the Alliance of Youth Movements is to recognize that civil society has fundamentally changed. You still have your traditional NGOs and organizations that are out there doing great grassroots work. But you also have a new cadre of civil society actors, and these are the young people who, you know, they have a URL or a Web site instead of an office, they have followers and members instead of a paid staff, and they use open-source platforms instead of having a robust budget."

Social media provides an open door to reach millions of youth. For example, when Au Pairs come to the United States, they stay in contact with their family and friends primarily through Twitter, Facebook, blogs and Skype. After an Au Pair leaves a Host Family, it is not uncommon for Host Families and Au Pairs to stay connected through various forms of social media. With the ability to post pictures, comments, stories and talk for free, the world has become a little smaller with social media.