Introduction to Social Media, Citizen Participation, and Government Minitrack

Social media and online networks have received a lot of attention in the last decade. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Weibo and Linked In provide tools for individuals to come together based on a variety of factors such as existing friendships, common interests, or work. People have discovered how social media can be used to facilitate communication, promote an exchange of ideas, and help mobilize fellow citizens around civic and political issues.