Engaging Citizens in Urban Planning Through Social Media Communication: The Case of Vologda
Key Points
Participant engagement in discussions on the mayor's page is notably low, undermining the potential for a participation culture.
The analysis revealed that interactions between residents and the mayor’s team were minimal, limiting effective communication.
Social media was used as a tool for urban planning communication, yet it did not foster a space for robust community engagement.
The study highlights challenges in bridging the gap between local governance and community involvement through social platforms.
Abstract
This study is dedicated to the formation of a participation culture in urban planning, using the example of the activity of the ex-mayor of Vologda Sergei Voropanov in the social network VK. We wanted to answer the following questions: why do city residents come to comment on the mayor’s page and is there interaction between the participants in the communication. During the study, we analyzed the content of publications and comments on the mayor’s page and came to the conclusion that it is difficult to talk about this communication space as a space for participation. This is due to the fact that the audience do not want to engage in discussions, and the mayor’s team is not ready to fully work with local communities.
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