Connecting 'digital citizens' on social networks

Promoting civic responsibility

Every day, Mr. Nguyen Van Dan, 83 years old, and his wife, Mrs. Tran Thi Thuan, 80 years old, in Son Tien block, Hoa Hieu ward, Thai Hoa town, use smartphones to communicate with their children and grandchildren via social networks.

In particular, the two of them regularly interact in the community group "Nguoi Son Tien" managed by the construction block executive committee. In Son Tien block, there are currently 290/388 households participating in the Zalo group "Nguoi Son Tien", accounting for nearly 75% of the households in the block. This is considered a fast and effective information channel, creating conditions for citizens of the block, no matter where they are, to fully access information on the block's activities.

Ms. Tran Thi Thuan said that the community group "Nguoi Son Tien" has brought a lot of information quickly and closely related to the lives of people in the block. From policies at all levels, emulation movements, campaigns to the responsibility of each household in contributing fees, funds of all kinds or donating to build the block, ward, support people in difficult areas. Or notices of meetings, collective activities of the block... All are promptly updated by the block executive committee on the Zalo group "Nguoi Son Tien" and updated and implemented by households.

It is worth noting that after the Block Management Board informed the policies, or campaigns, only 2-3 days after the announcement on the Zalo group, people proactively implemented them. The Block Executive Board immediately publicized the implementation results of each family on the group. Regarding the campaigns and donations, in 2023, through the Zalo group, households in the Son Tien block contributed a total of nearly 150 million VND to pour concrete on the road corridor, build a cultural house, and make a "Solidarity" flag road.

Through a call on the Zalo group, Son Tien residents agreed to contribute funds to install air conditioners in the block's cultural house, contributing to increasing the rate of households participating in block meetings. This is also the first residential area in Thai Hoa town to contribute to installing air conditioners in the block's cultural house.

By promoting the advantages of social networks and Zalo application, the Son Tien Bloc Executive Committee has promptly disseminated, informed, and propagated the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and local regulations to the people. Through the Zalo group, the Bloc Executive Committee also interacted with the people, grasped information and thoughts, and promptly handled the people's legitimate opinions and recommendations.

At the same time, through the Zalo interactive group, people promptly reflect and make recommendations on issues arising in the work of ensuring security and order, environmental protection, traffic safety, etc. Thereby, promoting the role and responsibility of cross-monitoring of households and helping the block executive committee grasp information and promptly coordinate to resolve them.

The role of the connector

The Zalo group “Nguoi Son Tien” has now become an indispensable part of the activities of Son Tien block (Hoa Hieu ward, Thai Hoa town). This Zalo group operates under the motto “Promoting the masses, valuing interaction and equal and timely interaction”. In particular, the important role of Block Leader Bui Dinh Bich is in establishing, propagating, mobilizing households to participate and directly managing, posting information, and handling issues raised in the group.

Mr. Bui Dinh Bich shared that the Zalo group "Nguoi Son Tien" was established by him in consultation with the Party Committee and the executive committee of the block after the Party Congress of the block, term 2022 - 2025. This is one of the steps to innovate the methods of dissemination, propaganda and interaction of block cadres.

Mr. Bui Dinh Bich himself founded the group and was assigned to be the administrator of the Zalo group. At first, Mr. Bich had to go to each family, popularize and invite households to join the group. At the same time, actively guide those who are not proficient to participate in interacting with the Zalo group.

Since the group was first established, along with the methods of propaganda and mobilization by word of mouth and on loudspeakers, all content that needs to be disseminated to the people, the block executive committee has posted on the Zalo group "Nguoi Son Tien" for households to access. Up to now, all information is connected on the Zalo group, reducing the time to announce on loudspeakers or having to go to each house as before.

After the success of the general Zalo group of the block, currently, the Party Committee, organizations and branches in the Son Tien block have all established Zalo groups and are operating effectively.

The Zalo interactive group activities of the Son Tien Bloc Executive Committee have contributed to raising awareness, strengthening trust, and creating consensus among the people. During that process, the Party Committee and people of the block recognized the role of Deputy Secretary of the Party Cell, Block Leader Bui Dinh Bich.

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Mr. Bui Dinh Bich shared: “Now all policies, guidelines or contents that need to be implemented in the block are quickly informed on the Zalo group “Nguoi Son Tien”. Anyone who is far away from the block can also grasp it. If it is broadcast on loudspeakers, it will take time and many households will not be at home at the time of the announcement and will not be able to grasp it. Therefore, now, even if it is a general meeting or anything, just announce it on the Zalo group, people will access and fully implement it”.

In a mountainous area, the fact that nearly 75% of households actively interact on social networks demonstrates the participation of "digital citizens" and affirms the modern and effective propaganda and mobilization methods of grassroots cadres.

Through monitoring this model, Mr. Pham Anh Duc - Head of the City Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee and Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Thai Hoa town said: "The effectiveness of the management and interaction of the Zalo group "Nguoi Son Tien" is one of the typical "Smart Mass Mobilization" models in Thai Hoa town. There, the responsible and dedicated participation of the Party Committee, block cadres and Block Leader Bui Dinh Bich is recognized. Many people in the block love the block leader and often call him "a contemporary person". The process of operation and interaction of the Zalo group also recognizes the high responsibility of the people in Son Tien area in the digital age...".

Currently, many executive committees, block, hamlet and village management boards in Nghe An have established "citizen" groups on Zalo to promote information, deploy movements and tasks, exchange people's thoughts and aspirations, and solve tasks at the grassroots level.

Replicating the "digital citizen" connection models on Zalo in particular and social networks in general is an urgent task to improve the work efficiency of block, hamlet and village officials as well as unite people in residential areas, contributing to building the homeland and the country.