By Natalie Whiting - ABC News
This week, many Facebook users in Papua New Guinea will have read a post written by their new Prime Minister, James Marape, and possibly re-shared it, in what's been described as an unprecedented move by a PNG leader.
The new PM posted a long, detailed essay on his visions for the country and his government, using his own Facebook account.
He addressed his post to "all friends and citizens of PNG" and signed off with the explanation that he believed it was important share share his thoughts so "the public must know what we up to as a government".
It's believed he's the first PNG Prime Minister to take such an approach, but he's not the only world leader to use social media.
The US President Donald Trump is a prolific Twitter user: he claims it's not because he likes to, but because he sees it as a way to fight 'fake news' media outlets.
So what is behind James Marape's decision to use social media to speak directly with the people of PNG, which is still a small number because the majority of Papua New Guineans still don't have internet access?
Leading PNG political commentator Dr Orovu Sepoe thinks it's an attempt by Mr Marape to appear transparent.
"Direct conversation with citizens is a good governance practice but I'm also mindful about the practicalities of it. The volume of responses and the requests and the demands that may come in," she told Pacific Beat.
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