The Convergence of Social Media and Public Policy: How Key Policy Actors Perceive the Role of Twitter in Shaping Alberta’s Bill 10 Legislation

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Sandhu, Niyam Rohit

• This research examines the perceptions of social media’s role in public policy deliberation from the viewpoints of those who were either engaged with or influenced by Twitter during the development of provincial legislation. This case study examines the development of Bill 10 and includes a content analysis of Twitter activity that occurred during the bill’s development and interviews with stakeholders representing government, news media, and advocacy groups to better understand the role that Twitter played in influencing the bill’s creation. The goal of the research was to better understand the role Twitter played in the deliberative process and its role in the development of public policy. The findings touch on Twitter’s role in the intertwined agenda-setting nature of the news media, the role of news media in amplifying and giving voice to affected citizens, and the ability of advocacy groups and concerned citizens to counter and reposition government’s initial framing of policy. Findings suggest that social media can play a significant role in policy discourse and may play an increasing role in future policy development. The role of social media may represent a changing dynamic for government around developing public policy or agendas through those engaged in the organic conversations inherent in social media.

• Date created

  2019-08-26

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Issue framing
  • Bill 10
  • Deliberation
  • Gatekeeping
  • Government
  • Advocacy
  • Agenda setting
  • News media
  • Public policy
  • Twitter
  • Alberta

• Type of Item

  Report

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-n0qf-q708

• License

  Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International