GSA launches YouTube channel

The General Services Administration launched a new YouTube channel today that will serve as the federal government’s official presence on the Web site, according to GSA.

In conjunction with the YouTube launch, GSA also recently updated its presence on Facebook and created a presence on Twitter that has attracted more than 4,000 followers so far, officials said.

To make it easier for federal agencies to legally use new media tools, GSA signed custom terms of service agreements with Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, Blist, SlideShare, AddThis and blip.tv, GSA officials said.

USA.gov, and the Spanish language site GobiernoUSA.gov, use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to distribute emergency information, announce government events, share government photos and videos, and gather feedback from the public, according to GSA.

The new YouTube channel, the U.S. Government Channel, has more than 200 videos from 25 agencies arranged in 13 playlists, including one in Spanish. Macon Phillips, the White House’s new media director, appears in a video that showcases new media being used by government agencies.