House

Ocasio-Cortez to host session for Dems on how to effectively use social media

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the youngest member of Congress, will co-host a session to show Democrats how to effectively use social media.

The House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee will host a session on Thursday with Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), USA Today reported Wednesday.

{mosads}The session is “on the most effective ways to engage constituents on Twitter and the importance of digital storytelling.” They will be joined by Twitter representatives and the House Administration Committee, according to USA Today.

Ocasio-Cortez has become a rising star in the Democratic Party since her stunning win over 10-time Rep. Joseph Crowley (D) in New York’s 14th District primary last June.

She now has over 2.42 million Twitter followers — more than the other 63 freshman Democratic lawmakers combined.

Ocasio-Cortez went viral earlier this month with a video of her dancing, which now has more than 20 million views.

Himes has 76,500 followers and described his own social media presence to USA Today as “more typical of most members.”

“Alexandria has very quickly built a national progressive following,” Himes said.

The Connecticut Democrat said hearings with executives from Facebook and Google have highlighted how differently the older generations of Congress understand the social media platforms.

“The older generation of members and senators is pretty clueless on the social media platforms. It’s pretty clear that a lot of members have 25-year-olds in their offices” running their social media, Himes said.  

Himes has a deal with his staff that he can manage his own Twitter account with a few exceptions, USA Today reported.

He can’t tweet after drinking more than two beers and can’t tweet about body parts — a compromise that came after he tweeted about his sweaty scalp caused by “super spicy chilis.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s office declined to comment to USA Today.