Information unit launches social networking guide

The guide, called Social Media Youth Participation in Local Democracy, is available in a pamphlet and online. Creating a blog, using social networking sites such as Facebook and uploading videos to YouTube are among the issues covered.

Jasmine Ali, head of the LGIU's Children Services Network, said: "Young people are using social media sites such as Facebook for around two and half hours a day. It is important that young people's professionals feel confident enough to communicate with them this way. It is no longer relevant to dismiss social media as being simply counter-culture."

The guide will also offer advice on including social networking communication in joint commissioning.

This latest guide follows the publication by the LGIU of a report in the summer called Local Government 3.0: How Councils can Respond to the New Web Agenda.