The Impact of Social Media on Fostering Civic Responsibility

Abstract

In the fast-moving, modern world that is 2017, trends and technological advances are forever evolving. With so many ways to communicate—FaceTime, email, Twitter, and Facebook—and so many ways to get information—all-time news clicking, swiping and watching it—there just doesn’t seem to be much room for civic responsibility these days (Anne Cummings, 2017). Engaging and being engaged in civic activities—such as your basic protests, contacting your representatives, and voting—are actions that are, for a lack of a better word, a real commitment, and take the time and effort of Joe Schmo to get into the swing of. This begs the question: Is civic responsibility being shirked on and forgotten about under the mass of Facebook and Twitter feeds and status updates? Despite the fact that social media is seemingly becoming more and more prevalent, is it perhaps possible that it can also be used as a tool to foster such civic responsibilities? As the intense growth in digital communication and distribution of media changes the face of journalism and public relations in the 21st century, these are issues that individuals, media companies, non-profits, governmental institutions, and society as a whole need to be aware of and informed about.This essay seeks to explore the rise of social media, and whether it can foster qualities of civic responsibility in a manner that has yet to be extensively researched. The objectives of this study also include analyzing multiple case studies featuring Facebook or Twitter usage and tracking the presence of relationship fostering and two communication models for fostering engagement in civic practices, as well as discerning from these successful case studies what may be considered best practices for either a future campaign or for individuals in general who wish to take part in civil civic acts through virtual platforms. The findings of this study are intended to serve as a guide for those who wish to become more participatory in their local systems and for public relations professionals to foster civic responsibilities through social media platforms. By exploring sub-topics, such as the rise of Facebook and Twitter, how different generations use social media, what exactly constitutes civic responsibility, and the infusion of social media practices into both news companies and government institutions, this study aims to broaden the scope of scholarship on that which social media can accomplish, and what the future may hold in the exciting new world of virtual interaction.

Keywords: social media, civic responsibility, digital communication, civic engagement, case studies, Facebook, Twitter, participatory practices