Friday 20 April 2012

PM Lee Hsien Loong launches official Facebook page on 20 April 2012

By Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 20 Apr 2012

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has launched his official Facebook page, at leehsienloong@facebook

In a welcome note posted at 2.38pm on Friday, PM Lee said social media has changed the way people live, work and play - especially in the way they connect with one another. 'Societies, communities and governments all over the world will not be the same again,' he said.

PM Lee noted that many of his colleagues have been using social media and had encouraged him to start his own Facebook page. 'Having watched them, I have decided to join the fun,' he added.

While his staff will help maintain the page, PM Lee said he will try to post as often as he can himself. While he will use the page to talk about some of the things he is doing and thinking about, PM Lee also asked netizens to share their ideas, advice and suggestions on the page in the four national languages.

The page already has photos of key moments in PM Lee's political career, such as when he was sworn in as Singapore's third Prime Minister in 2004 and the opening of the 12th Parliament in 2011.

It includes nuggets of information about PM Lee's interests, which include reading, walking and 'tinkering with computers'. It is also linked to PM Lee's new Twitter account, launched at the same time as his Facebook page.

Using a smiley face and breezy Internet lingo in his first Facebook post, PM Lee said he hoped netizens would 'like (and Like)' what they read on his page. Thanking them for their support, he signed off with his initials - LHL.








PM Lee welcomed netizens to his Facebook page with this opening address:
'Hello Everybody,
Welcome to my Facebook page! :-)) 
The social media have changed the way we live, work and play, especially the way we connect with one another. Societies, communities and governments all over the world will not be the same again. 
Many of my colleagues have been using social media, including Facebook. They have encouraged me to start my own Facebook page. Having watched them, I have decided to join the fun. 
I hope you will find my Facebook page interesting. I will use it to talk about some of the things I am doing, and thinking about, but I would also like to hear from you. Let's use this page to help shape ideas and understanding of what we can do together to improve our lives. 
As a Facebook newbie, I would appreciate your advice, suggestions and, most of all, your patience. My staff will help me maintain this page, but I will try to post as often as I can myself. I will sign off my own posts with the initials 'LHL'. If you wish to write in Malay, Chinese or Tamil, please feel free to do so. 
I hope you like (and Like) what you read. Thank you very much for your support. 
LHL'








PM Lee is an instant hit and becomes the most 'liked' minister within hours
By Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 21 Apr 2012

YOU can now 'like' Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Facebook, comment on his posts, and follow him on Twitter.

PM Lee launched his Facebook page and Twitter account yesterday, marking his official entry into social media in a move that also reflected an increased effort to engage younger Singaporeans.

Both platforms received an enthusiastic response. Within three hours of its launch at 3pm, PM Lee's Facebook page drew more than 7,000 'likes' - making him the most 'liked' among Cabinet ministers with public Facebook pages - and more than 2,000 followers on Twitter.

By 11pm, he had more than 15,700 'likes' on Facebook and 3,500 Twitter followers. Facebook users indicate their interest in pages set up by others by clicking on a 'like' button, while Twitter users can 'follow' each other's postings.

In a welcome post on Facebook, PM Lee noted that social media had changed the way people live, work, play and connect. He said many of his colleagues had been using social media and encouraged him to start his own Facebook page.

He wrote: 'Having watched them, I have decided to join the fun.'

Ministers with Facebook pages include National Development's Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Foreign Affairs' Mr K. Shanmugam, and Community Development, Youth and Sports' Mr Chan Chun Sing.

PM Lee's Facebook page will be maintained by staff from the Prime Minister's Office, but he said he would try to post updates personally as often as he could.

Besides using it to share what he is doing and thinking about, PM Lee also asked netizens to pitch in to 'help shape ideas and understanding of what we can do together to improve our lives'.

Calling for comments in all four national languages, he said: 'As a Facebook newbie, I would appreciate your advice, suggestions and, most of all, your patience.'

The page now contains photos depicting key events in his life, such as his days in school and in the military, his wedding to Madam Ho Ching in 1985, and the day he became Singapore's third PM in 2004.

PM Lee also adopted breezy Internet lingo in his maiden post, using a smiley face and saying he hopes netizens will 'like (and Like)' what they read.

He will also sign off on personal posts with his initials - LHL.

With his latest move, PM Lee joins the ranks of other world leaders who have gone online, such as the United States' Mr Barack Obama, Australia's Ms Julia Gillard and Malaysia's Mr Najib Razak.

Communications experts like Associate Professor Ong Siow Heng at the Singapore Management University (SMU) said it reflected PM Lee's desire to send the message that he was 'reachable and accessible'. Singapore Internet Research Centre director Ang Peng Hwa saw it as a signal to government bodies to use social media and new technology to engage citizens better.

But some stressed that how PM Lee interacts with Facebook users over time will be the true test of its effectiveness.

'No one expects the PM to personally respond to every comment,' noted former Nominated MP and blogger Siew Kum Hong, 'but he has to engage people for the platform to work'.

Netizen Heidi Ng, 23, hopes to see more spontaneous and personal content. 'Right now, it seems more like a PR pitch... I would like to see more in-depth insights on policies, his thoughts and his family. It will be interesting to see how he replies to people's comments too.'

Many of the comments made yesterday welcomed the Prime Minister online, but some took the chance to air grievances over national issues. Some asked if negative comments would be deleted.

Social media expert Michael Netzley from SMU said yesterday's swift responses were a good sign: 'The initials LHL could soon come to represent something more than just the PM's name. If handled well, engagement over these channels could potentially come to represent a willingness to connect with the people.'

PM Lee appeared determined to keep the ball rolling. At 9pm, he made a second post on Facebook: 'I just finished dinner, and am happy to find so many people have already seen my page: residents in Teck Ghee, Singaporeans far and wide (including at least one in Europe), an old SAF comrade I have not heard from for a while (Hi, Richard!) and even a well-wisher from Mauritius. TY to all for your comments and Likes! - LHL.'

On Twitter, he posted: 'Thank u all! V touched by ur responses & encouragement. Good night! - LHL'



Mr Lee Hsien Loong made his maiden Facebook post on April 20, 2012, when he expressed his hope that Singaporeans would...
Posted by The Straits Times on Wednesday, February 17, 2016


















*  Fun, surprising, instructive and bewildering: PM Lee marks 10 years on social media
By Isabelle Liew, The Straits Times, 20 Apr 2022

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong did not quite know what to expect when he launched his social media accounts exactly a decade ago.

"But it seemed a good way to connect directly with the online community and public at large," he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (April 20).

Mr Lee joined Facebook on April 20, 2012, and has since amassed more than 1.7 million followers.

It has been a "fun, surprising, instructive, and at times, bewildering experience", he said, adding that this includes wondering why certain posts got such strong responses while the others did not.

"I'm still learning new things and trying to keep up with the ever-evolving platforms, memes and latest trends."


In his Facebook post, Mr Lee said he particularly enjoyed sharing photos from his walks here and abroad under the hashtag #jalanjalan, thanking those who have appeared in his photos.

A video posted showed moments such as the "magic cup" from his Covid-19 circuit breaker address in 2020, where PM Lee effortlessly switched languages each time he drank from his cup.

It included his post about a barn owl that flew into the Istana, which attracted 500,000 views in a day.

Images of Mr Lee on visits with then US President Barack Obama and Indonesian President Joko Widodo were also featured in the video. It also included Mr Lee and his wife Ho Ching at the Purple Parade, Singapore's largest movement to support the inclusion of people with disabilities and celebrate their abilities.

"Social media has changed greatly and greatly changed some of our societal norms. My social media journey would be nothing without each and every one of you," Mr Lee said.

"Grateful that so many of you have accompanied me on my online adventure. Thanks for your support, and here's to many more years ahead!"




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