Social networks in Russia could become an effective tool for carrying the voice of the people to the government, participants to a round table organized by the Institute of Contemporary Development said.

Politicians, political scientists and businessmen brought together by the Moscow-based think-tank emphasized the importance of the Internet as a tool for both economic and political change.

“Social networks are becoming an important instrument for shaping public opinion and launching dialog between users and the government,” read the roundtables summary declaration approved at the meeting.

“Once this mechanism of feedback between politicians and the electorate is in place, such networks will wield enough power to make the ruling elite lend a more attentive ear to the public opinion and respond better and quicker to its requests,“ it said.

The discussion was broadcast live over the internet by Polit.ru, Russia’s long-standing online political and news resource.

State Duma deputy, Ilya Ponomaryov, said in the opening remarks that the Round Table was due to contribute to the efforts of finding an engine to reignite the economy.

The audience was presented with two project ideas for the social networks to serve as collective bargaining tools to extract discounts from retailers. “Producers will benefit from higher demand and the public from a pickup in the market and production,” said Igor Aidman, director of Politika 2.0 and promoter of the projects.

Most participants urged small businesses to make better use of the opportunities provided by the internet.