UK taxpayers shell out £1m for the government's failed social media attempts
The government's failed social media attempts have come at a cost of more than £1m to UK taxpayers over the last three years.
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed that 11 departments had spent in excess of £1.1m between 2012 and 2015 on promoting policies and campaigns, with £20,000 squandered on a Facebook push about restorative justice which attracted just 2,000 likes.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills forked out £3,428 on two Twitter adverts with the House of Lords investing nearly £600 on an IT course in 2015 for just one staff member.
The 'GREAT Britain' campaign from the Cabinet Office, which encouraged people to do business in the UK, cost the most at £394,979.
Social media strategist Bryony Morris told the press that the government is "wasting money" on these campaigns and should "consider using a different platform" as the levels of engagement received were "not good".
The Ministry of Justice released a comment stating that it was "crucial" to make use of "all available media channels to raise the public's awareness of important issues."