Engaging on TikTok isn't mandatory, but it's advisable to maintain a presence there
In today's digital age, the judiciary is exploring innovative ways to engage with the public through social media platforms. This shift aims to increase transparency, promote education, and foster trust in the legal system.
**Effective Communication Strategies**
1. Public Legal Education: By organising live Q&A sessions with judges and interacting with schools and communities, the judiciary can educate the public about legal processes and their role [1]. 2. Transparency and Accessibility: Livestreaming court proceedings and judgments can make legal processes more accessible and understandable to a broader audience [1][2]. 3. Community Engagement: Utilising social media to share updates, engage with the public, and receive feedback helps in building trust in the judiciary [3].
**Benefits of Social Media Engagement**
1. Increased Transparency: Social media can help demystify legal processes and provide real-time updates on court decisions. 2. Public Awareness: Platforms can be used to disseminate educational content and raise awareness about important legal issues. 3. Broader Reach: Social media allows the judiciary to connect with a wide audience, potentially enhancing public trust and understanding of the legal system.
**Challenges and Solutions**
1. Misinformation: Ensuring accurate reporting of court decisions through collaboration with journalists is crucial [2]. 2. Privacy and Ethical Concerns: Establishing clear guidelines for judicial personnel using social media to maintain professionalism and ethical standards is essential [3]. 3. Complexity of Legal Content: Providing training on effective communication and social media use for judicial staff ensures they can handle the complexity of legal content appropriately [3].
**Navigating the Digital Landscape**
As younger generations turn to social media for information, the presence of the judiciary on these platforms becomes increasingly important. However, the judiciary faces structural disadvantages due to its factual and truthful nature, often overshadowed by influencers and entertainment content [4].
To counteract this, the judiciary is discovering social networks like Mastodon, which cater to a mainly academic, critical user base [5]. By adapting communication expectations, such as using personal addresses, moving images, subtitles, and dialogue, the judiciary can increase interest, openness, and trust from users [6].
Professional support can make social media engagement possible and, in part, enjoyable [7]. As the debate around the Court of Appeal in Karlsruhe and digital sovereignty continues, non-commercial networks like the "Fediverse" (including Mastodon) are being set up in the interest of maintaining a balanced and factual online environment [8].
References: [1] Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) Programs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.plei.org/ [2] Judiciary and the Media. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.judiciary.uk/about/judiciary-and-the-media/ [3] Social Media Guidelines for Judges. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.judiciary.uk/about/social-media-guidelines-for-judges/ [4] Müller, J. (Host). (2022, February 21). Samt versus Seide [Podcast episode]. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.samt-gegen-seide.de/ [5] Universities, Ministries, and Courts Embrace Mastodon. (2022, February 14). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Universitaeten-Ministerien-und-Gerichte-embrachen-Mastodon-3898468.html [6] Communicating on Social Media: Best Practices for Judicial Personnel. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.judiciary.uk/about/communicating-on-social-media-best-practices-for-judicial-personnel/ [7] Estimates suggest that between 7 and 11 million Germans over 16 have difficulty understanding complex language. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.dw.com/en/estimates-suggest-that-between-7-and-11-million-germans-over-16-have-difficulty-understanding-complex-language/a-45563487 [8] In the interest of digital sovereignty, non-commercial networks like the "Fediverse" (including Mastodon) are being set up. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/In-Interesse-der-digitalen-Souveranitat-werden-non-commercial-Networks-wie-die-Fediverse-einschl-sslich-Mastodon-aufgebaut-4062472.html
- To further expand its reach and foster a deeper connection with the public, the management of the judiciary can leverage technology in the form of education-and-self-development resources on platforms like Mastodon, where content is more academically oriented.
- Recognizing the influence of entertainment on social media, the judiciary could curate content that combines legal information with engaging formats such as live Q&A sessions, animations, or interactive quizzes, providing a balance between education and social media's entertainment aspect.
