Social Media Platforms As A Socio-State Interface

Use Of Facebook And Instagram By City Halls In The Varginha-MG Micro-Region

Abstract

Socio-state interfaces are new spaces for contact between the state and society, some of them created by the improvement of Information and Communication Technologies. The aim of this study is to understand how the 16 city halls in the Varginha - MG micro-region using the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram for active transparency. The approach also seeks to discuss how these platforms can provide greater contact between public administration and citizens. 6,203 posts on the 16 Facebook fanpages and 12 instagram profiles from 01/10 to 31/12/2021 were analyzed. It was found that these channels were used to publicize the actions of the administrations, as a one-way street, focused on government information and propaganda. This was due to the low presence of interaction and post inviting public engagement, while the public- social services and government actions had more posts. Platform can contribute in terms of guaranteeing access to information, but they are still used to foster dialog and stimulate participation in public decisions.