Abstract:

This paper examines the phenomenon of "Web 2.0" among elected officials; specifically, blogging and social networking among local, state and national elected officials. Scholarly research posits that the development of the second-generation Internet is a tool for promoting not only online engagement of citizens and public servants, but also for off-line engagement. This paper describes the blogging and social networking activities of elected officials on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, Instagram, as well as blogs. Additional discussion is offered on broader social phenomenon of online social networks and how they affect policymakers’ interactions with citizens, as well as the impact of Web 2.0 on internal communications and speed the flow of information. It is hypothesized that as an elected official or candidate directly engages with the public, the greater the size of the social network. This is quantified by various measures such as “friends”, unique blog hits, comment postings, and overall visibility.

Keywords:

Web 2.0, Facebook, Twitter, Survey, Research.