A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Citizen engagement on local government Facebook pages: Experience from Aotearoa New Zealand
Abstract This paper explores the role of local government Facebook pages in citizen engagement by focusing on two councils in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) and the Otago Regional Council (ORC). We investigate how these councils use their Facebook pages to communicate government matters with citizens, and how citizens engage with the councils using the pages. Examination of Facebook posts by the two councils from January to December 2019 reveals that citizens were ‘informed’ of various council-identified issues through the use of ‘passive’ posts. There were relatively scant ‘active’ posts, which hold greater potential for meaningful engagement. It is apparent that both councils are more managerial and less consultative and participatory in their approach to social media use for citizen engagement. We recommend that local governments can enhance the level of engagement by exploring ways to increase their page followers, using a combination of both active and passive posts frequently, increasing and experimenting with types of active posts, and adopting te reo Māori and minority languages to ensure an inclusive virtual environment. This study offers new insights for both local governments and social media researchers to rethink how to best utilise Facebook pages for effective e-participation.
Highlights Posting frequency may not increase Facebook followers or engagement. Council's and community's technology readiness influences e-participation. Double-loop strategies sustain follower's interest and reduce the shallower syndrome. A combination of diverse active and passive posts can increase engagement. Multi-lingual posts would encourage citizen engagement and retain followers.
Citizen engagement on local government Facebook pages: Experience from Aotearoa New Zealand
Abstract This paper explores the role of local government Facebook pages in citizen engagement by focusing on two councils in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) and the Otago Regional Council (ORC). We investigate how these councils use their Facebook pages to communicate government matters with citizens, and how citizens engage with the councils using the pages. Examination of Facebook posts by the two councils from January to December 2019 reveals that citizens were ‘informed’ of various council-identified issues through the use of ‘passive’ posts. There were relatively scant ‘active’ posts, which hold greater potential for meaningful engagement. It is apparent that both councils are more managerial and less consultative and participatory in their approach to social media use for citizen engagement. We recommend that local governments can enhance the level of engagement by exploring ways to increase their page followers, using a combination of both active and passive posts frequently, increasing and experimenting with types of active posts, and adopting te reo Māori and minority languages to ensure an inclusive virtual environment. This study offers new insights for both local governments and social media researchers to rethink how to best utilise Facebook pages for effective e-participation.
Highlights Posting frequency may not increase Facebook followers or engagement. Council's and community's technology readiness influences e-participation. Double-loop strategies sustain follower's interest and reduce the shallower syndrome. A combination of diverse active and passive posts can increase engagement. Multi-lingual posts would encourage citizen engagement and retain followers.
Citizen engagement on local government Facebook pages: Experience from Aotearoa New Zealand
Alam, Ashraful (author) / Meenar, Mahbubur (author) / Barraza, Francisco (author) / Khalil, Momtaj Bintay (author) / Knopp, Katie (author)
Cities ; 123
2022-01-07
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Masculinities in Aotearoa-New Zealand
| Online Contents | 2000
Engendering cities: international dimensions from Aotearoa, New Zealand
| Online Contents | 2016
Kaupapa Māori Evaluation in Aotearoa New Zealand
| Wiley | 2018
Surf break management in Aotearoa, New Zealand
| TIBKAT | 2019
Improving local governance with citizen engagement?
| Taylor & Francis Verlag | 2021