Five world leaders using social media effectively

What happens when politicians come face-to-face with a personal thought-broadcasting platform? It’s a match made in heaven. We decided to find out which of the world’s politicians have ventured into this new frontier.

This list isn’t based solely on numbers of followers, but on those politicos who use Twitter and/or Facebook regularly to interact with their constituents, and do so effectively. Of course, the tech-savvy Americans dominate the online reputation market, but others are also starting to build substantial followings.

Here are five of the most interesting examples.

Barack Obama

http://twitter.com/BarackObama

http://www.facebook.com/barackobama

Twitter followers: 5 552 095

App of choice: Hootsuite

Facebook fans: 14 026 163 (official page)

Unsurprisingly, the man who revolutionised online campaigning is at the top of the list. And Obama didn’t slack off when he became President. Followers and fans get an unprecedented look at the inner workings of the Oval office and his insane schedule. Of course, being the leader of the free world and having limited time on his hands, he delegates management of his accounts to “Organising for America”, his grassroots organisation.

Hugo Chavez

http://twitter.com/chavezcandanga

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hugo-Chavez/112591172085879

Twitter followers: 903 977

App of choice: Twitter for Blackberry

Facebook fans: 1 683 (community-generated page)

Chavez is a big fan of exclamation marks!! They make him look forceful and energised!! He is prolific and tweets about his friends a lot, i.e. other South American presidents who have to deal with naughty rebellions. He also waxes poetic about the glories of socialism. At least his account is more personal and, er, colourful, than Obama’s. Hugo’s Facebook presence is pretty dismal though, with just a few unofficial pages created by fans.

After unauthorised messages were posted on his account during legislative elections, Venezuela’s interior minister Tareck El Aissami announced that Hugo Chavez’s Twitter account was hacked.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

http://twitter.com/Schwarzenegger

http://www.facebook.com/joinarnold

Twitter followers: 1 809 7474

App of choice: Twitter for iPhone

Facebook fans: 351 461 (official page)

The Governator is remarkably diverse and sincere (for a politician). He tweets about everything from meeting the Russian Prime Minister and budget votes, to his daughter’s book launch and how much he’s looking forward to the documentary Waiting for Superman. Conversely, his Facebook page is purely political although well-maintained. It’s just a pity that Google Translate doesn’t have an “English into German accent” option.

Sarah Palin

http://twitter.com/SarahPalinUSA

http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin

Twitter followers: 267 427

App of choice: Twitter for Blackberry

Facebook fans: 2 267 984 (official page)

Sarah Palin uses text speak in her tweets, even when there’s no need for abbreviation (e.g. “No need 2 settle 4 such an odd,troubled character 2 represent your beautiful state”). Maybe she thinks it’s a “maverick” thing to do. Her Facebook page has far more followers, although some of the profiles look suspicious. The page is regularly updated, usually with links to Tea Party videos, anti-Obama articles, conservative rhetoric and stories about Alaska.

Julia Gillard

http://twitter.com/JuliaGillard

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julia-Gillard/161674172327

Twitter followers: 59 829

App of choice: Twitter for iPad & Twitter for iPhone

Facebook fans: 83 260 (official page)

Australia’s first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard is one of the few politicians who actually follows people back. She retweets her party account (@AustralianLabor) quite often, but also replies to individuals and tells us what she’s having for lunch. Her Facebook page is pure PR – Julia with soldiers in Afghanistan, Julia meeting Sepp Blatter, Julia getting flowers for her birthday – but informative if you’re from down under.

Notable absences:

• David Cameron. However, there is an official UK Prime Minister Twitter account (there is an official White House account too), which is not about the individual politician, but about the office itself.

• Vladimir Putin. There are a few humorous fake Putin accounts, but no genuine Vlad. Maybe the glare of a computer screen would turn him to ash.

• Nicolas Sarkozy. You’d also have better things to do if your wife was Carla Bruni. Or he might just be too busy eating cheese.