With social media you kinda loose control over who is who and who is responsible for what. anyone can just write whatever they want to without following the site protocol or communication plan. it can be a great tool to utilise for communication and even education, recruitment and retention, but if used carelessly it cause damage!!!
Obama visited South Africa and his meeting with key stakeholders was held at our site in Masiphumelele, and so they were rumours afterwards about his visit and how he brought money in bags… some folks rushed to put it on the social media. so we had to respond on the same platform and quickly invite community stakeholders to meet us for furtherdiscussion and clarification on the matter. we had an urgent RC meeting to revisit our communication plan and come up with a turn around plan. A community meeting was called where we clarified the Obama visit and the why community members were not invited to meet him (some young people attending the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation youth center were invited though).
