Twitter Chat Experiment Under Way in the Silicon Valley

Twitter may not be an ideal platform for conversations between city government officials and citizens, given its 140-character limit per post. But despite that limitation, Palo Alto (CA) has found success using the social media tool to host in-depth chats for Silicon Valley residents.

The city held its first Twitter Q&A on Feb. 27. Palo Alto Mayor Yiaway Yeh and City Manager James Keene fielded questions ranging from street planning to high-speed rail issues. A second session was conducted on March 29, which received broader participation and increased media attention. A third Q&A is scheduled for May 2.