---
title: "How Social Networking Can Reinvigorate American Democracy and Civic Participation (with video & transcript)"
description: "A discussion forum focused on using social networking and digital tools to reinvigorate democracy and extend electronic engagement from campaigns and grassroots-activism to governance."
date: "2011-06-28"
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/2011/06/28/how-social-networking-can-reinvigorate-american-democracy-and-civic-participation-with-video-transcript/"
categories:
  - "Civic Activities Online"
  - "Online Activism"
  - "Politics & Media"
  - "Politics Online"
  - "Social Media"
tags:
  - "Government"
  - "Social Networking"
---

# How Social Networking Can Reinvigorate American Democracy and Civic Participation (with video & transcript)

On June 28, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings convened a discussion forum focused on using social networking and digital tools to reinvigorate democracy and extend electronic engagement from campaigns and grassroots-activism to governance. Participants discussed strategies for voter empowerment, citizen engagement, and governance transformation. Questions examined included: What tools does government use to engage the American people, and how have these engagement strategies evolved? How does social networking improve participation and collaboration in governance? What does current research say? What role should industry actors such as Facebook and Twitter play in encouraging online civic participation?

You can **[watch a video of the discussion](http://www.brookings.edu/events/2011/0628_social_media.aspx)**, in which Pew Internet director Lee Rainie presents findings from [our recent report on technology and social networks](https://legacy.pewresearch.org/internet/2011/06/16/social-networking-sites-and-our-lives/), and [download the [uncorrected] transcript](https://legacy.pewresearch.org/internet/2011/06/28/how-social-networking-can-reinvigorate-american-democracy-and-civic-participation-with-video-transcript/~/media/Files/Presentations/2011/Jun/Brookings_social_media.pdf) provided by Brookings.

#### Read more reports about:

- [Government and civic engagement](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/topics/Government.aspx?typeFilter=5)

- [Social networking sites](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/topics/Social-Networking.aspx?typeFilter=5)