Canada takes hockey seriously, and the prime minister knows how to use that on social media.
The Twiplomacy Study 2014 was released on Tuesday, looking out how world leaders use Twitter to communicate. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was recognized among his peers in the study, though not for formal diplomatic relations or public messages. Rather, Harper was trash talking.
The study brings up a tweet by Stephen Harper as one of the most retweeted by world leaders in 2014. Though other tweets were regarding more serious issues such as the Indian election, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, and the abdication of the King of Spain, Harper’s more trivial tweet to President Barack Obama about the Sochi Olympics bet garnered over 23,000 retweets.
Like I said, #teamusa is good but #wearewinter. @BarackObama, I look forward to my two cases of beer. #CANvsUSA #Sochi2014
— Stephen Harper (@pmharper) February 21, 2014
Perhaps Canadians take gold medal Olympic hockey games with the USA pretty seriously?
Stephen Harper took to Twitter relatively soon compared to other leaders, and so far he’s put out over 3000 tweets.
The study found that Twitter’s become a powerful avenue for both digital diplomacy and 21st century statecraft. According to the study, more than half of the foreign ministers and their institutions in the world are active on Twitter, and 83 per cent of the 193 UN member countries have a Twitter presence. More than 68 per cent of heads of state and heads of government have personal accounts as well.
Even the Queen Elizabeth II has gotten into it, sending her first ever tweet through the @BritishMonarchy account on October 24th and signing it “Elizabeth R.”
It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the @ScienceMuseum and I hope people will enjoy visiting. Elizabeth R.
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) October 24, 2014
#TheQueenTweets pic.twitter.com/jz69LOlGcD
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) October 24, 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama has the most followed Twitter account, while Pope Francis and Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono come in second and third.
*Cover Photo: Stephen Harper at the Winnipeg Jets game. (Photo Credit: Stephen Harper/Facebook)
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