A Parliament research paper conducted on MP use of social networking websites shows Tauranga MP Simon Bridges has the fifth most Facebook friends of all MPs.

In the report he ranks fifth with 3781 friends, behind Hone Harawira in fourth with 3941 friends, and Prime Minister John Key in first with 5002 friends.

Since writing the report, Simon's numbers have increased and he now has 4021 friends.

Simon sees Facebook as a way to connect with the public and enjoys using it as a medium to find out what his constituents think.

'It's bit a like a public meeting or door knocking,” says Simon, 'although you are knocking on more doors than you ever could physically”.

'I can communicate my messages, but I can also get frank views back from people about what they think of them, and sometimes those views are too frank, but I'm pretty relaxed about that as long as people aren't offensive to others and watch their language.”

When people step over the mark, Simon says it is important to act promptly.

'If something is clearly offensive I will get rid of it, but there is a bit of give and take in that people have to understand the medium and how it is reasonably uncontrolled.

'Ultimately I have to take responsibility for my page, but it is a bit like a public meeting in that once something is said, you have to deal with it.”

Facebook is the principal online media Simon uses to engage with the public, but he is considering some new options.

'I'm also thinking about using Twitter. I actually Facebooked whether I should be and there's a whole range of views about it and I may well do so, although I am conscious too many tweets can make a twit.”

It's not all serious for Simon on Facebook though and he sees personal value in using the social networking website.

'Facebook does a whole lot of things and some of it actually is just good fun.

'I do some of it in a personal capacity just for enjoyment and as a catch up with friends.

'For example a guy who I went to university with at Oxford has contacted me on Facebook and he's an Indian guy living in New Delhi and we have established contact through my page.”

Simon also uses Facebook to communicate with some MPs including Nikki Kaye, Bill English and Lockwood Smith, although he says not all politicians are enthusiastic about it.

'I think there's a range of views and I think some MPs take the view that it can be quite risky because you can't control it particularly well.

'It happened to me once, I woke up in the morning and some inappropriate stuff had been put on.

'It wasn't about me, but sometimes there's been arguments between people break out on my Facebook, about nothing that's to do with me, and that can be a bit marginal.

The arguments aside, Simon sees Facebook as a useful way of connecting with the public.

'I think there is an increasing view that it is a valuable way to talk to people, particularly when you are down in Wellington so much and you want to get a view from people back in Tauranga.

'I can often ask about what is happening in Tauranga and get a range of views and because it is the internet, people can be more blunt.

During this year's general election campaign Simon says he will use social networking websites although traditional campaigning methods will also be used.

'I wouldn't want to overstate the part that online media will play, but it will be a range of things I want to do.

'I will want to interact with people online, but also through pamphlets in letterboxes, door knocking and public meetings.

'They are all ultimately doing the same thing: talking to people.”

MPs with most Facebook ‘friends' as at 13 January 2011

MP	Party	Number of ‘friends'
Rt Hon John Key	National Party	5,002
Hon Tau Henare	National Party	4,998
Louise Upston	National Party	3,978
Hone Harawira	MÄori Party	3,941
Simon Bridges	National Party	3,781