Experts and senior public sector communicators are encouraging the government to use social media platforms and digital communication for swift engagement with citizens.

This came out at the Social Media Summit underway at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park.

The event focused on ways public institutions can build trust, engage citizens and deliver services more effectively through the innovative use of social platforms.

In celebration of World Social Media Day observed on the 30th of June annually, experts and senior public sector communicators gathered to discuss critical issues and trends in digital communication.

Public relations company, Decode Communications CEO, Lorato Tshenkeng, says while digital communication is convenient, there are some challenges.

“The importance of looking at one of these platforms … how do they put out a lot of these fake information, fake narratives and how do we support citizens or at least as communicators support citizens to say there’s a way of distinguishing between negative and bad information and the truth and therefore, how do you support the truth? The other issue is cyber-bullying. That’s something that happens all the time, whether it’s younger people or even older people,” says Tshenkeng.

Specialists at the summit are adamant about the future of digital communication. However, they are concerned about the dividing element this type of communication bring.

Mthembu says there is a need to make digital communication between the government and citizens more accessible.

“We always treat technology and digital as a very foreign concept, and as a very removed one. So, I think firstly, it’s just an integration of it and the secondly, it’s the way that we can humanize it a lot more. So even in the indigenous knowledge systems that we have in South Africa, how can we take that intersection between culture and technology and sort of make it intertwined a lot better and localize it.”

The summit is expected to delve into more communication-related discussions on Tuesday.