The article is devoted to the legal and organizational framework of electronic participation of citizens in public affairs through social media. The author analyzes foreign and Belarusian experience in the use of the Internet technology. The case in point is the activities of central government bodies and other state organizations subordinate to the G overnment of the Republic of Belarus. There are legal gaps identified in this area, as well as the need to increase the up-take of this channel of communication between the government and Belarusian citizens. It is proposed to develop a set of legal arrangements such as the social media policy, the digital registry regulation and amendments to the staffing chart of governmental agen cies and the job descriptions of civil servants.