---
title: "Governing as Social Networking"
description: "Lee Rainie discussed the Project’s research about how the internet and cell phones are affecting citizens and how government agencies have new opportunities to plug into citizens’ social networks as they try to solve problems in their lives."
date: "2009-04-22"
authors:
  - name: "Lee Rainie"
    job_title: "Former Director, Internet and Technology Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/lee-rainie/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2009/04/22/governing-as-social-networking/"
categories:
  - "Emerging Technology"
  - "Federal Government"
  - "Social Media"
tags:
  - "Government"
  - "New Media Ecology"
  - "Social Networking"
---

# Governing as Social Networking

Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, discussed the Project’s research about how the internet and cell phones are affecting citizens and how government agencies have new opportunities to plug into citizens’ social networks as they try to solve problems in their lives. He talked about the reasons people rely more and more on their social networks as they share ideas, learn, and seek support. Government agencies now have the chance to act as “nodes” in those networks.

The conference web site at [www.irmco.gov](http://www.irmco.gov/) gives further details on the other policy speakers who presenated during the conference, including Vivek Kundra, the first Federal CIO and John Berry, the administration's new Director of the Office of Personnel Management.

http://www.slideshare.net/PewInternet/governing-as-social-networking