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The governance strategies for public emergencies on social media and their effects: a case study based on the microblog data

Author

Listed:
  • Qingguo Meng

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Nan Zhang

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Xuejiao Zhao

    (Tsinghua University)

  • Fangling Li

    (China Mobile University)

  • Xin Guan

    (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Since the 1980s, the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has greatly changed people’s modes of production and lifestyle, and it has also had a significant influence on traditional social structures. Microblogs – a type of social media application such as Twitter or Weibo – have served as an important platform for network governance in some local governments in China. This study makes an attempt to answer the following questions: What types of strategies should governments implement on social media platforms during public emergencies? What are the effects of these strategies? Based on the case of the Shifang Incident, which was a large-scale environmental protest that occurred in Shifang, China in 2012, we analyze all the messages posted during the incident on the official microblog of the Shifang government and examine the public feedback by using an online big data analysis tool. In line with the time sequence and the extent of the conflict, we divide the Shifang Incident into three phases: the fermentation period, the confrontation period, and the digestion period. In addition, we classify government strategies on social media into five categories: introducing, appealing, explaining, rumor-refuting, and decision-making. The analysis results show that different government strategies are applied to different phases of the incident and that the responses of the public also vary during different periods.

Suggested Citation

  • Qingguo Meng & Nan Zhang & Xuejiao Zhao & Fangling Li & Xin Guan, 2016. "The governance strategies for public emergencies on social media and their effects: a case study based on the microblog data," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(1), pages 15-29, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elmark:v:26:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s12525-015-0202-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s12525-015-0202-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Allegra Gonzalez, 2008. "Digital citizenship: The Internet, society, and participation," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 59(13), pages 2189-2190, November.
    2. Kaplan, Andreas M. & Haenlein, Michael, 2010. "Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 59-68, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Xiaoyang & He, Daobing & Liu, Chao, 2018. "Modeling information dissemination and evolution in time-varying online social network based on thermal diffusion motion," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 510(C), pages 456-476.
    2. Roger Clarke, 2020. "Researcher perspectives in Electronic Markets," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 30(1), pages 15-27, March.
    3. Liu, Xiaoyang & He, Daobing & Yang, Linfeng & Liu, Chao, 2019. "A novel negative feedback information dissemination model based on online social network," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 513(C), pages 371-389.
    4. Lihua Wang & Xin Luo, 2021. "Understanding the Interplay Between Government Microblogs and Citizen Engagement: Evidence from China," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 487-520, June.
    5. Ulrike Baumöl & Linda Hollebeek & Reinhard Jung, 2016. "Dynamics of customer interaction on social media platforms," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(3), pages 199-202, August.
    6. Rainer Alt & Carsta Militzer-Horstmann & Hans-Dieter Zimmermann, 2016. "Electronic Markets on self-archiving," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(1), pages 1-5, February.

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