Government seeks rules for federal social networking

The federal government is not jumping into the world of social networking without any forethought or plan. Although many federal agencies and workers are clamoring for more access to social networks, the government is taking a go-slow approach. It is working on giving guidance to the federal agencies on how they can use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, according to Vivek Kundra, who serves as OMB's e-government and information technology administrator.

Kundra told agency web managers recently that the Federal CIO Council and the General Services Administration are working on the rules, but gave no hint on how soon they would be available.

In my opinion, it better be soon. Agencies are embracing social networking as a new way to communicate with the public. Many federal employees--especially GenYers--want it, too, as a faster way to communicate ideas and get things done in the wide federal world.

While it may be the newest and most popular tool in cyberspace, it's certainly hard to ignore it. I say, get going and get the rules in place. It's one popular online tool that just cannot be ignored.

For more on federal rules for social networks:
- check out this nextgov.com article