Politics in 140 characters
"Social media is about openness and dialogue", says Silja Borgarsdóttir from the Nordic Youth Council. "You don't just say something but you listen. The more we open our ears and engage in dialogue, the more visible we become in Nordic co-operation".
One of those who frequently uses social media to put focus on Nordic matters is Jakob Esmann, President of the Nordic Youth Council. He believes that Nordic politicians have a great responsibility in driving interest for Nordic questions in their own countries.
"We know it's difficult to get Nordic stories on the front page of Aftenposten or Politiken. But if the media doesn't prioritise Nordic matters, then we have to do it ourselves. Together we can create a Nordic agenda - e.g. on social platforms. If we, as Nordic politicians, don't put Nordic politics on the agenda, who else will do it?"
Rings in water
Nordic politics make their impact during the Nordic Council Session. Twitter especially simmers with activity with the hash tags #nrsession and #unginorden. Silja Borgarsdóttir Sandelin and Jakob Esmann both take part in and follow the debates on Twitter, when the whole region gets together at the political summit.
"There is a limit to how many of us can sit in the room at the Nordic Council Session, but on Twitter there is no speaking list. We talk about important matters which affect people from Umeå to Reykjavik, and via Twitter the debates spread like rings in water. The ’commentator thread’ on Twitter brings the Session out to people and opens up for participation", emphasises Borgarsdóttir Sandelin.
Visibility requires courage
More transparency is high on Jakob Esmann's wish list for the future of Nordic co-operation. On social media people can take part themselves - they can't do that in the same way if they open a newspaper or turn on the television", he points out.
"We must be bold and dare to show that there are both long processes, disagreements and many parties in Nordic co-operation. Maybe it's naive, but I think it is important to have transparency from a democratic point of view. Nordic decisions affect everyone in the Nordic countries so why not open up discussions along the way and let people join in?
The social Nordic Region
The Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers are active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Follow us, and take part in the debate!
Facebook
Facebook.com/nordensk (skandinavisk)
Facebook.com/nordenis (islandsk)
Facebook.com/nordenen (engelsk)
Facebook.com/nrlitteraturpris: Nordic Council Literature Prize
Facebook.com/sdnordic: Sustainable development the Nordic way
Twitter.com/nordensk (skandinavisk)
Twitter.com/nordenen (engelsk)
Twitter.com/nordenis (islandsk)
LinkedIn
Follow company: The Nordic Council of Ministers and The Nordic Council
Instagram: Follow Nordicways – Nordic co-operation in pictures
