Facebook is a social networking site that lets people who know each other recommend groups, causes and content like videos that they think their friends might be interested in. It’s a very smooth website, working very nicely and easily, with nothing over-complicated, but also very interactive, as any web 2.0 application should be.

This means that Green campaigns, electoral or issue-based, can attract new audiences and new help. These people are by and large the younger end of the population, as the website’s core audience started out as University students. Large workplace and older audiences are by now using Facebook. Politicians making use of the site include a good number of Lib Dem MPs, and our own Darren Johnson AM and candidate for London Mayor Siân Berry.

One potential objection to using Facebook might be that it could generate too much informal contact with little result, but I would say that people are still generally polite enough to know not to waste other people’s time. Certainly, if MPs are using it effectively, I expect it would be particularly useful for our elected reps.

Councillors in University towns might find it especially useful to network with Green voters who are still at college. These are a notoriously difficult group to make solid connections with, and the time-independent, network-style approach of Facebook may well help to break these barriers down, for an audience who are clearly drawn to our politics.

Another very useful feature of Facebook is the ability to show our message on video - like Youtube - to an established audience, and to people who are self-selecting their interests. Even better, discussions can follow videos, and seem more likely to develop than on Youtube, as it is clear that members of the Facebook group on which the video appears are likely to read the comments you leave. So again, you can get real feedback on what you say, which is crucial for any political campaigner.

So I very much hope that our local campaigners spend a little time developing a presence on Facebook as well as Youtube. If you’re a new user, why not sign up and the follow this link to find the Green Party’s group, and go from there?