Social Media: Are Governments Using its Potential for Citizen Engagement and Socio-Economic Development?

Abstract

Media has traditionally been helpful in government communication, but it has mostly remained one-directional. Social media, with its limitless possibilities of engagement with people, can transcend communication barriers and help governments bring in transparency in admipistration, reach people, elicit their participation and deliver services. Constraints such as poor literacy and low internet penetration in developing countries can be overcome, provided governments change their mindset from one-way communication to engaging citizens as valuable stakeholders.