Is Social Media Changing Local Government?

Municipal Affairs
6 minutes ago
2 min read

On May 1st, I found myself in Brandon, Manitoba, joining municipal leaders from across the province at the 2026 Manitoba Municipal Administrators Association Leadership Summit. It’s one of those gatherings where the conversations feel especially real—because the challenges being discussed aren’t theoretical. They’re happening right now, in council chambers, in community halls, and increasingly, online.

Municipal leadership today is not what it was even five years ago. The pace has changed. Expectations have changed. Citizens are more engaged, more vocal, and more connected than ever before. And while that brings opportunity, it also brings pressure. Public discourse is shifting—sometimes productive, sometimes polarized—and navigating that space has become a core part of the job.

Add to that the uncertainty of a municipal election cycle, where priorities can shift quickly and leadership can change, and it becomes clear just how complex this environment has become.

Earlier in the day, I had the chance to speak about something I’ve been closely watching: the state of local government and the evolving expectations of citizens. But in the afternoon, the conversation turned to something even more immediate—how we communicate in a world shaped by algorithms, comment sections, and constant noise.

We hosted a roundtable discussion called Anti-Social Media: Communicating with the Crowds—a candid look at what it means to engage with communities in spaces that aren’t always built for constructive dialogue.

I was joined by three experienced voices in local government: Vanessa Figus, Jody Penner, and Colleen Draper. Together, we explored what’s working, what isn’t, and how municipalities can cut through the noise to build meaningful connections with the people they serve.

This episode of Municipal Affairs was recorded live at the MMAA Leadership Summit—and it captures a conversation that’s becoming more important with every passing day.

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