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Swiss government to launch trial with Instagram account

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Soon on Instagram: the Swiss government plans to open an account to increase its visibility on social media channels. © Keystone/Christian Beutler

The Swiss government is extending its presence on social media and will open an account on the international photo and video-sharing platform.

The Federal Chancellery said a pilot project with the Instagram service was planned for October.

The aim is to reach out to people who use social media, particularly among the 16-to-35 age group, a spokesperson told the Keystone- SDA news agency on Monday.

She said the seven-member Swiss government would publish its decisions and important background information via the service, which is owned by the American Facebook company, now known as Meta Platforms.

The trial is part of the government’s communications strategy decided last year aimed at increasing the visibility of the work of the ministers and the presidency, the spokesperson added.

The government has already been present on the online video-sharing and social media platform YouTube and the social networking service Twitter.

An estimated 2.5 million people in Switzerland (of a total population of 8.7 million) have an Instagram account, according to Keystone-SDA.

In 2019, more 80% of the national governments around the world were present on Instagram.

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Masked Palestinian members of the "Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam" militia, the military wing of Hamas, hold their weapons and pose for the media during a march on the streets of Gaza City, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. Arabic on headband reads, "No God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet, Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam brigade." (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

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