The Oconee County Board of Education highlights gaining social media followers in its 2024-2025 plans to reach the community. With less than 70 followers until completing the 20,300 goal, the county is close to accomplishing one of its community engagement plans.

According to a November 2024 Pew Research report, “about one in five Americans say they regularly get news from influencers on social media.” The center classifies these profiles as news influencers, “individuals who regularly post about current events and civic issues.”

Social media platforms act as a way for the Board and all 12 county schools to inform the county population about events and news and put out status information in case of emergencies, as social media is one of the fastest ways to reach the public for news.

Oconee schools have the most presence on Instagram and Facebook. Each school posts about events such as spirit weeks, athletics, school accomplishments and important information like school-day cancellations.

Erin Pagenkopf is a journalism major at the University of Georgia.