Track 9: Participation in the Era of Social Media and Digital Platforms

The massive adoption of social media and digital platforms by organisations and citizens has affected many social activities and the relationship between government and society. This widespread adoption increased information spread and interaction, facilitating governmental communication and service delivery. At the same time, potential negative impacts on the population increased the government’s concerns about the challenges of monitoring, algorithm transparency, content moderation, and regulating such platforms.

Based on this context, the Track accepts papers with theoretical and practical contributions, innovative approaches, case studies, and other perspectives related to the use of digital media by governments and society. This Track welcomes papers investigating the role of social media and digital platforms in enhancing and promoting government activities, including communication and engagement strategies and using social media data. It also invites studies on the operation of social media and digital platforms, such as algorithm mechanisms, content moderation practices, the fight against illegal or harmful content, risks of filter bubbles, and their influence on democracy, social movements, and trust in governments.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the use of social media and digital platforms in public policies, such as education and health policies; adoption of social media and digital platforms to communicate and engage with society; regulation and initiatives to fight against misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, fake news and deep fakes; impacts of digital media on democracy, trust and citizens’ rights; the role of platforms accountability and transparency mechanisms, and the use of digital media data for crisis and emergency management, such as geolocation and AI-based interventions.