According to an article posted by The Guardian, the government of Finland has enlisted the help of social media influencers, rappers, writers and other creatives to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country by supplying them with factual and important information thereby gaining access to the respective audiences, to ensure that everyone is reached.Â
The government has argued that social media influencers and creatives are just as important and useful as mainstream media and has recognized their abilitiy to reach mass audiences in very little time.
The government communications director Päivi Anttikoski has said, ““We can reach a large part of the public in Finland through official communications and traditional media, but it’s clear the authorities’ messaging doesn’t always reach all population groups. The aim of this cooperation is to provide better access to information for those who are difficult to reach through traditional channels. As far as we know, Finland is the only country in the world to have defined social media as ‘critical operators’, along with doctors, bus drivers and supermarket workers.”
The country’s 34 year old Prime Minister Sanna Marin has launched the initiative through her office in partnership with a Helsinki social media consultancy, and Mediapool, a network of media companies.
The task is to ensure that all citizens have access to factual and reliable information at all times.Â
Do you think that social media is more effective than traditional media in reaching audiences?
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