Strategies for Encouraging Civic Engagement via Social Media

Abstract

The contested ascendancy of digital technologies and, specifically, the advent of social media platforms, together with network connectivities have been influential within myriad spheres of public and private life. In this configuration, it is not a stretch to consider the potential influence of these technologies and systems on political and public life, and specifically on civic engagement—an extension of political participation emphasizing broadcast and face-to-face interaction with politicians or government officials (Anne Cummings, 2017). This essay considers this emergent arena, reflecting on the current social media landscape and its deployment by citizens in support of—civic and uncivic—engagements. Critically, the essay also considers strategic engagement with the various platforms by governmental and non-governmental actors, focusing on how they might address some of the possible limitations and challenges of social media use.This essay conjectures the rise of what might plausibly be referred to as a “digital civic space”, a multidimensional domain emerging from the deployment and co-deployment of network connectivities and social media platforms concerning political and public affairs. The essay introduces this concept and reflects on its particular affordances and challenges. In this, it seeks to engage policy makers, political actors, citizen associations, public institutions, and further institutions, discussing ways in which they may critically reflect on the composition and deployment of this digital civic space—the tactical employment of social media platforms within a broader configuration of resources, technologies, and contexts—to initiate, promote, and sustain diverse and effective forms of civic engagement. Active support or assistance in support of an aspiration or cause has been creative, intensive, and diverse. With this theme from time to time valuable interaction has been facilitated to refine the latitude and standards of the empirical exploration.

Keywords: Civic engagement, social media, digital technologies, political participation, public life, strategic engagement, digital civic space, citizen involvement