The BEST way for a CIO to justify maintaining and supporting social media platforms is by demonstrating:

Explaining how social media fits into the IT investment management process describes internal IT procedures, but it doesn't inherently justify the *value* of the investment to the broader organization.

Meeting SLAs indicates operational efficiency and vendor compliance, but it doesn't quantify the business value or strategic benefit obtained from using the social media platforms themselves.

Demonstrating IT performance, such as uptime or response times, shows operational effectiveness, but it doesn't explain *why* the social media platforms are valuable to the business in terms of outcomes or strategic goals.

To justify ongoing investment in social media platforms, a CIO must demonstrate the actual business value generated, such as improved customer engagement, increased brand awareness, or enhanced sales. This translates IT spending into measurable business benefits, directly supporting the organization's strategic objectives and providing a clear return on investment.