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Rules, Prudence and Public Value: public servants and social media in comparative perspective
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 08:18 authored by Grube, DCThe reach of social media is prodigious. Its ubiquitous nature has reshaped the ways in which government agencies can communicate with citizens. But amidst the rush to embrace the opportunities of Twitter, Facebook and other platforms, governments have had to lay down rules to govern how and when public service departments should use social media. This article undertakes a comparative analysis of the formal rules and guidelines in place across four Westminster jurisdictions – Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK – to identify the types of behaviours and activities that are seen as desirable when public servants are reaching out to the wider public through social media. The article argues that the horizontal communication patterns associated with social media are fundamentally at odds with the hierarchical structures of the Westminster system of government.
History
Publication title
Government and OppositionVolume
52Pagination
75-99ISSN
0017-257XPublisher
Cambridge University PressPlace of publication
United KingdomRights statement
Copyright 2015 The Author. Published by Government and Opposition Limited and Cambridge University PressRepository Status
- Restricted