Matt Hancock – some people know him, some people don’t – he’s the current Digital, Culture, Media & Sport secretary of the United Kingdom and forms part of Her Majesty’s Government.
His department is the former Culture, Media & Sport department and in an effort to show that he considers ‘Digital’ an important part of his role, he’s embraced the world of digital and employed a development agency to make an app. A phone app. An app you can use on your tablets. An app all about…
Matt Hancock
Introducing the new ‘Matt Hancock’ app! To quote an early adopter, Robert Hutton, “it’s like having an actual Matt Hancock in the palm of your hand!”.
Stills are from the intro video that you are greeted with after first launching the Matt Hancock app. The purported aim of the app is to engage with his local constituents in West Suffolk but, needless to say, in a matter of days, Matt Hancock has gone global. OK, global *may* be a slight exaggeration but he’s certainly gone national. Absolutely further than West Suffolk.
Although no, I’ve not personally joined the Matt Hancock revolution yet.
What’s It All About?
Well, leaving connecting with constituents to one side, it’s social media, kind of Facebook-esque (old world, not current!) and people can be social with each other.
But… rather than having Mark Zuckerberg to idolise like a god you have Matt Hancock. Matt Hancock has put himself all over the app. You can check in on what Matt Hancock is currently doing. Look at what he’s having for tea. Have a look at the latest selfie he’s taken.
But, it’s not a vanity project… honest!
Who Are The People Using It?
Good question – at the moment, journalists have jumped all over. Also, Matt Hancock seems to have a lot of ‘fans’ that have also joined up. Also, following his new found fame with the launch of the eponymous app, a whole cross section of society appear to have signed up. International take up appears low at this time, but it’s early days.
Whilst users of the worlds biggest social networking site Facebook are sometimes unofficially known as ‘Facebookers’ or ‘Zuckers’, following on in a similar fashion, users of Matt Hancock are affectionately (yet unofficially, as far as we know) known as ‘Mancocks’ or just ‘cocks’ for short (hence the 17+ app rating).
What’s Not To Like?
Well, not much I guess.
The department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which oversees the Information Commissioners Office, stresses the importance of app developers following it’s official guidance for privacy in mobile apps.
Seems developers Disciple Media may not have got the memo though.
Given the recent debacle surrounding allegedly “handsy” MP’s, Matt Hancock sure wants to get his hands on your data:
But, at least he asks.
Will Matt Hancock overtake Facebook? Only time can tell.
For now, we’ll leave you with Matt Hancock singing ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ in the style of Queen – enjoy!