Top10 Rankings 2013 Summary Report

Research Note: World Leader Rankings on Twitter December 2013 6 HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UAE AND RULER OF DUBAI is ranked #7 among the world leaders using Twitter. Jumping up three spots, Sheikh Mohammed’s account grew by 1 million in just one year, and saw the greatest movement of those who had also been in the Top 10 in 2012. His Twitter presence of 2.4 million followers is punctuated by his eagerness to express his opinion and comment on both regional and global issues, as well as his openness to the world’s different cultures. Upon reaching the milestone of 2 million followers in 2013, Sheikh Mohammed thanked and praised them for their active participation in discussions that have contributed to past social and humanitarian campaigns launched in the UAE. In December 2013, utilizing Twitter, His Highness called for “every man, woman and child to join us in the biggest ever national brainstorm session to find new ideas for health and education.” He also announced the hashtag #uaebrainstorm for citizens to tweet to as they submitted their ideas and expressed his optimism that his citizens continually arise to the occasion “whenever approached to contribute to innovative ideas.” MEXICO’S PRESIDENT ENRIQUE PEÑA NIETO moved up one spot in the top 10, gaining practically 100,000 followers in one year to top 2.35 million. President Nieto joined his fellow leaders to mourn one of history’s greatest freedom fighters and statesmen, Nelson Mandela, upon his death in December. The Mexican president expressed on Twitter, “Humanity has lost a tireless fighter for peace, freedom and equality. Rest in peace, Nelson Mandela.” PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS OF COLOMBIA fell by one spot in 2013 with 2.31 million followers. Like his fellow Latin American leaders in the top 10, Twitter remains a vital element of his approach to governing. In 2013 he continued to favor Twitter in place of more traditional communication strategies. “I use it sometimes to send messages to clarify certain things, to communicate with the country,” Santos said. “You send out a tweet and immediately, if it’s something important, it comes out in the media. Instead of making so many press conferences, you use Twitter.” 2013 marked BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT DILMA ROUSEFF’S Twitter comeback. When the president had essentially abandoned her account following her election in 2010, a young Brazilian citizen created a parody account that would go viral and take on current political issues, without being cynical or mean-spirited. When the president invited the “other Dilma” to the presidential palace in September 2013, the media event provided the opportunity for the president to display her sense of humor and announce her re-election bid. President Rousseff even adopted some of the memes created by her parody account and has been tweeting prolifically since that time. The government’s lack of interaction with Brazilians on social media had become obvious during the June protests over corruption, poor public services, and police violence. President Rousseff fell from the #6 spot with about 2 million followers but remained in the Top 10 in 2013, most likely due to followers she gained after the media event. #7 #8 #9 #10

Top10 Rankings 2013 Summary Report

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