State Department shifts digital resources to social media

With little fanfare, the State Department has abandoned America.gov – an ambitious digital project launched three years ago to promote Democracy abroad – and shifted its resources to social media projects.

A message on the front page of America.gov informs visitors that, as of March 31, the site is not being updated and will be archived. A notice directs visitors seeking information on US foreign policy to the range of US embassy and consulate websites or State.gov. The manpower once devoted to the site, provided through the State Department’s Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP), is being redirected towards the department’s “social media assets,” which use Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. IIP Deputy Assistant Secretary Duncan MacInnes called it shift to a “more proactive” web engagement strategy.