OC Cities Ranked for Use of Social Networks, But the Public Only Gets to Peek at the Best

An Irvine technology and accounting services firm recently examined the Internet strategies employed by Orange County's 34 cities and singled out eight for such criteria as best embracing social media, offering greater transparency and increasing citizen access to their government.

And the virtual envelope, please, for the great eight (listed after the jump):
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1. Tustin (tie)
1. Newport Beach (tie)

3. Dana Point

4. Brea (tie)
4. Buena Park (tie)
4. Fullerton (tie)
4. Irvine (tie)

8. Placentia

Tripepi Smith's “Orange County City Internet Strategy Analysis” was based on raw data analyzed Oct. 15-27. According to the results:

• 18 of 34 cities post video online of their council meetings

• 29 of 34 cities have posted the email address for the mayor or general city council

• 21 of 34 cities have Twitter accounts

• 17 of 34 cities have Facebook pages

• Tustin has the most Twitter followers (more than 2,000 as of 10/18/10)

• Lake Forest tweets the most

• Fullerton has the most “Likes” of its Facebook page (5,276 people as of 10/18/10)

I reached out to Tripepi Smith for the full list, in hopes that I could present the worst Orange County cities when it comes to use of social media. Alas, I have yet to hear back. The firm would like to see its report spawn not worst lists but a discussion among the public and cities about how social media is best used.

Worth talking about:

• Cities that have avoided securing any official accounts in the social
  media realm have created a vacuum of identity filled by private citizens
  who have secured accounts that appear as if they are the city. One case
  appears to be a squatter in “likely violation of Twitter policy,”
  according to Tripepi Smith.

• There are two similar, registered City of Irvine accounts on Twitter. (One could be to contain Larry Agran's ego, of course.)

• Most Orange County that webcast their council meetings used the same
  company, Granicus. “This could represent an opportunity to for cities to
  combine contracting power to secure better pricing for the service,”
  notes Tripepi Smith.