KUWAIT: Being the
prime means of social media in Kuwait, WhatsApp has become a growingly
significant tool used by ministries and state agencies to receive citizens'
complaints and suggestions. Targeting the largest possible number of people,
some Kuwaiti ministries tap this effective technology by means of sending and
receiving instant messages encompassing texts, photos, videos and recordings.
WhatsApp Web is even applied by several state departments as a quick and easy
way to use WhatsApp messages on computers, with on-duty staff receiving queries
and giving immediate replies.

Speaking about
this impressive technology, senior officials of public relations and media at
several ministries and state bodies said that the mounting use of WhatsApp
service is undoubtedly a source of pride to them. The Interior Ministry's Media
and Public Relations Manager Nasser Busleib said that the ministry uses
WhatsApp as an effective type of communication between its various units and
citizens. The ministry has got specialized and efficient staff working round
the clock to get complaints and proposals from citizens and residents, and
reply to them at once, Busleib boasted. However, the official urged people to
avert using WhatsApp services while driving, otherwise they would be brought to
book.

Effective tool

Kuwait
Municipality's Public Relations and Media Manager Mohammad Al-Mutairi said
WhatsApp is, in fact, an appropriate and effective tool of social communication
that helps in setting locations, receiving grievances and remarks and
addressing them immediately. However, he lamented that WhatsApp provides a
significant, but limited, service in general while other tools like Twitter and
Instagram, for instance, are more useful and valuable. Meanwhile, the Ministry
of Electricity and Water's Social Media Chief Khadeeja Meshari said there has
been a wide-scale application of this technological service since it was
initially launched at the ministry's various departments.

She acclaimed the
use of WhatsApp at state agencies as an impressive type of social communication
that has become very common in the Kuwaiti society in general. WhatsApp
services have already been put in place at the ministries of interior, social
affairs, commerce and industry and electricity and water, Public Institution
for Social Security, Expropriation of Public Welfare Department, Public
Authority for Minor Affairs. Other authorities and bodies are expected to
follow suit in the near future. - KUNA