The Limits of Social Media for Public Administration Research and Practice

Governments around the world increasingly rely on social media to expand civic engagement. While these efforts are motivated by optimism that social media platforms have the potential to mobilize more diverse segments of the public, there is growing concern that the use of these tools by governments can reinforce existing power differentials and create new challenges for inclusion, accountability, and democracy. To understand the potential of social media to expand civic engagement, we call for greater integration of science and technology studies literature into public administration social media research. By drawing from the science and technology studies literature, public administration researchers can better assess the political and social inequalities embedded in social media tools and better inform practitioners on the use of social media to effectively engage the public.