“We are all in this together:” police use of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Hu ◽  
Beidi Dong ◽  
Nicholas Lovrich

PurposePrevious studies consistently indicate that police agencies tend to use social media to assist in criminal investigations, to improve police-community relations and to broadcast both crime- and non-crime-related tips promotive of public safety. To date, little research has examined what content the police tended to post on their social media sites during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachBy selecting the 14 most widely attended police agencies' Facebook accounts, the current study collects and analyzes a sample of 2,477 police Facebook postings between February 1 and May 31, 2020. By using a mix-method approach, the study addresses three research questions: 1) What kinds of messages did the police tend to post on their Facebook pages before and during this pandemic? 2) What types of COVID-related police Facebook postings were made? 3) How did the public react to COVID-19-related police Facebook postings?FindingsThe findings suggest that the police have come to believe that social media can be used as an effective police−public communicative tool in stressful times. The findings also suggest that social media platforms have become a routinized tool of police−public communications which can, to some appreciable extent, substitute for the in-person contacts traditionally relied upon in community policing.Originality/valueThis study of police use of social media explores the question of whether the use of these media can serve as an effective tool to connect the police with the public under circumstances where in-person contacts are greatly constrained. Some public policy implications emerging from the findings reported are discussed, along with implications for further research along these lines.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy R. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Paula L. Weissman

PurposeThe aim of this study was to understand how public relations leaders view and use social media analytics (SMA) and the impact of SMA on the public relations function.Design/methodology/approachThe research involved in-depth interviews with chief communication officers (CCOs) from leading multinational corporate brands.FindingsThe findings revealed that although CCOs perceive social media analytics as strategically important to the advancement of public relations, the use of social media data is slowed by challenges associated with building SMA capacity.Theoretical and practical implications – The research extends public relations theory on public relations as a strategic management function and provides practical insights for building SMA capabilities.Originality/valueThe study is among the first to provide empirical evidence of how companies are using social media analytics to enhance public relations efforts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Ahnaf Rifky Saputra

In this digital era, all activities can be published to the public through social media. Many groups of people actively use social media ranging from students, adults, entrepreneurs and state officials. One of them is the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. H. Joko Widodo. Joko Widodo has a variety of social media platforms, social media with the most followers among other social media is Instagram. With a total of 16.5 million followers making him the leader of the country with the second most followers in the world. The content of uploads on Instagram of Joko Widodo is diverse and very massive, the things Joko Widodo does on Instagram social media is one way to form personal branding. Personal branding is a unique phenomenon because basically all people have their own characteristics, to get the results of long-lasting branding and provide maximum benefits, the branding process must come from authentic, real and original evidence. This study aims to determine how effective the use of social media instagram is for the formation of Joko Widodo's personal Branding to the 2019 First Election Voters who are still confused and need references to make choices in using their voting rights. This study uses a descriptive quantitative method of two variables. The independent variable in this study is the effectiveness of using social media instagram while the dependent variable is Joko Widodo's personal branding. This research was conducted by distributing questionnaires to 100 respondents using the Nonprobality Sampling technique. The results of this study state that the use of Instagram social media in delivering the desired message falls into the effective category with a percentage of 74.9% while the formation of personal branding for the first voters is included in the effective category with a percentage of 81.1%. The conclusion of this study is that the communication carried out by Joko Widodo's Instagram social media account took place effectively and had a positive effect on the formation of Joko Widodo's personal branding for the first voters of the 2019 Election. Keywords: Social Media, Instagram, Personal Branding, First Voters


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Ahnaf Rifky Saputra

In this digital era, all activities can be published to the public through social media. Many groups of people actively use social media ranging from students, adults, entrepreneurs and state officials. One of them is the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ir. H. Joko Widodo. Joko Widodo has a variety of social media platforms, social media with the most followers among other social media is Instagram. With a total of 16.5 million followers making him the leader of the country with the second most followers in the world. The content of uploads on Instagram of Joko Widodo is diverse and very massive, the things Joko Widodo does on Instagram social media is one way to form personal branding. Personal branding is a unique phenomenon because basically all people have their own characteristics, to get the results of long-lasting branding and provide maximum benefits, the branding process must come from authentic, real and original evidence. This study aims to determine how effective the use of social media instagram is for the formation of Joko Widodo's personal Branding to the 2019 First Election Voters who are still confused and need references to make choices in using their voting rights. This study uses a descriptive quantitative method of two variables. The independent variable in this study is the effectiveness of using social media instagram while the dependent variable is Joko Widodo's personal branding. This research was conducted by distributing questionnaires to 100 respondents using the Nonprobality Sampling technique. The results of this study state that the use of Instagram social media in delivering the desired message falls into the effective category with a percentage of 74.9% while the formation of personal branding for the first voters is included in the effective category with a percentage of 81.1%. The conclusion of this study is that the communication carried out by Joko Widodo's Instagram social media account took place effectively and had a positive effect on the formation of Joko Widodo's personal branding for the first voters of the 2019 Election. Keywords: Social Media, Instagram, Personal Branding, First Voters


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn Hill ◽  
Howard Giles ◽  
Edward R. Maguire

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe a theory-driven intervention called VOICES that was developed to improve police-community relations. The intervention was designed based on principles derived from social psychological theories of intergroup contact and communication.Design/methodology/approachThe authors discuss the theoretical basis for the intervention, as well as its development and implementation in the Santa Barbara Police Department. Based on this pilot testing, the authors provide preliminary evidence about its effectiveness using survey responses and qualitative feedback provided by participants.FindingsAlthough the case study method used here does not allow for causal inferences about the effectiveness of the intervention, the limited evidence the authors present does suggest that participants found VOICES useful and it may have improved their perceptions of police. The next step will be to test this intervention using experimental or quasi-experimental methods that allow for causal inferences about effectiveness.Originality/valueThe paper shows how police can develop theory-driven interventions in an effort to improve trust between police and the public, including communities in which relationships with police have been historically strained. It also underscores how insights from the study of intergroup contact and communication can benefit policing.


Author(s):  
Alessandra Micalizzi ◽  
Alessandra Nieli

In 2009, a new political movement was born in Italy. It is called “Five Star Movement” (M5S) and it was positioned as a new voice of Italian people: alternative, populist, against élites, and against the traditional “way of doing” politic in the First and Second Republic Age. The power of this new political subject is linked with the use of social media platforms to communicate and share information, opinions, and positions with its “base” in a participative democracy perspective. In the last national political campaign, the M5S obtained 32% of the votes with a peak in the South of Italy. The chapter aims at presenting the main results of an empirical research focused on Sicilian voters of the East coast, in order to verify if and how digital communication helped in obtaining this success. Data show evidence about the relevance recognized to social media as first direct sources for collecting political information. The respondents express a large consent for traditional media that maintain in the public opinion a strong reputation in construction and share the public-sphere.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Fernandes ◽  
Inês Inverneiro

Purpose Exerting a peculiar fascination on both managers and academics, Millennials can be distinguished from other cohorts by their intense exposure to the internet and heavy use of social media, which, in turn, affect their identity formation, brand engagement, loyalty and purchase behaviour. Yet, uncertainties regarding online engagement and the real benefits brands can reap from Millennials’ avid use of social media remain. Therefore, by developing a holistic model of drivers and outcomes, this study aims to understand how Millennials engage with their most loved, self-expressive brands across social media platforms and its impact on loyalty-related intentions. Design/methodology/approach Data was gathered using a self-administered survey, answered by 343 millennial generation social media users and based on self-selected self-expressive, loved brands. Considering brand loyalty as a key outcome, a holistic model was developed and tested using partial least squares-structural equation modelling, emphasizing not only the role of social media engagement but also including brand love, experience and identification as direct and indirect antecedents. Findings Findings suggest a disconnection between online and offline brand relationships: though Millennials love and are very loyal to their favourite brands, they are not actively engaged in social media, which helps to explain the non-significant effect of engagement on brand loyalty. Moreover, together with brand identification, brand experience was found to play a major role in developing brand love, which, in turn, is positively related to engagement and loyalty. Originality/value Theoretically, this study contributes to bridging a gap in the literature, as research on engagement, its drivers and outcomes is scant and there is no robust evidence about its impact on brand loyalty, particularly among Millennials. Moreover, research on disengaged consumers who exhibit limited willingness to engage is still scant. Managerially, this study provides insights for brand managers wishing to successfully engage and build relationships with Millennials and to identify key routes to Millennials’ loyalty.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 228-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suha AlAwadhi ◽  
Sultan M. Al-Daihani

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the use of social media in the marketing of academic library resources and services in Kuwait and identifies the factors related to the use of social media applications in marketing academic libraries.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative data-collection approach using a paper and online questionnaire has been employed to elicit the opinions of librarians working in academic libraries in Kuwait in both private and public institutions. In total, 89 valid questionnaires have been analyzed using descriptive (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (factor analysis, correlations, experimental analysis and regression).FindingsThe study shows that the academic librarians have a positive perception toward the use of social media. The identified factors relating to the use of social media for marketing library information resources and services are the usefulness of social media tools in raising awareness and in providing needs analysis and satisfaction assessments. However, management support for the use of social media for library marketing is poor.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights into the factors related to the use of modern social media platforms to promote information resources and services at academic libraries to provide outreach services to current and potential users.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the field of information studies as it highlights the importance of using social media platforms in marketing academic library information resources and services. Library administrators could use the results to develop social media marketing plans to effectively promote their library resources.


2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 445-462
Author(s):  
Gal Yavetz ◽  
Noa Aharony

PurposeThe current study seeks to present and examine the strategies, management and dissemination of information on social media platforms by Israeli government organizations and agencies.Design/methodology/approachThe article uses the “Case Study” approach, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted with directors in charge of the use of social media in government departments.FindingsThe findings indicate that government agencies tend to favor Facebook over other social network platforms, in order to reach the widest possible audience. They do this by adhering to the platform's limitations, such as regularly using sponsored advertising to increase reach and visibility, and also by publishing visual content, such as videos and images, at the expense of text. In addition, the impact of respondents to adopt social media outweighs the use and importance awarded to traditional government websites. A clear preference is evident toward cultivating and strengthening existing information on social media at the expense of further developing official websites.Originality/valueFindings and conclusions from this type of research can help digital media directors and content editors in government agencies, to improve the quality of their content and improve the accessibility of the information they share online. In addition, the findings of the study strengthen the growing body of knowledge focused on the relationship between government ministries and social media.


Subject Uganda's social media tax. Significance Uganda in July began implementing a set of new taxes on internet-based services. These include a daily fee for use of ‘over-the-top’ (OTT) social media platforms (such as WhatsApp, Twitter or Facebook), and a tax on mobile money transactions. However, the measures have been fiercely opposed by the public and have drawn widespread condemnation as an infringement on freedom of speech. Impacts Nigeria is also mulling a social media tax; all sides will use the Uganda situation in ways that support their own views in that debate. Zambia’s government may use a proposed set of tough cybercrime laws to stifle dissent ahead of President Edward Lungu’s re-election bid. Tanzania will resist calls to reform new regulations requiring bloggers to pay for licenses to post online content.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
xiaoling Hao ◽  
Daqing Zheng ◽  
Qingfeng Zeng ◽  
Weiguo Fan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how to use social media in e-government to strengthen interactivity between government and the general public. Design/methodology/approach – Categorizing the determinants to interactivity covering depth and breadth into two aspects that are the structural features and the content features, this study employs general linear model and ANOVA method to analyse 14,910 posts belonged to the top list of the 96 most popular government accounts of Sina, one of the largest social media platforms in China. Findings – The main findings of the research are that both variables of the ratio of multimedia elements, and the ratio of external links have positive effects on the breadth of interactivity, while the ratio of multimedia features, and the ratio of originality have significant effects on the depth of interactivity. Originality/value – The contributions are as follows. First, the authors analyse the properties and the topics of government posts to draw a rich picture of how local governments use the micro-blog as a communications channel to interact with the public. Second, the authors conceptualize the government online interactivity in terms of the breadth and depth. Third, the authors identify factors that will enhance the interactivity from two aspects: structural features and content features. Lastly, the authors offer suggestions to local governments on how to strengthen the e-government interactivity in social media.


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