Implementation of Civic Initiatives in the Social Network Space of the Region (Using the Example of the Belgorod Region)

Abstract

The implementation of civic initiatives in the regional social media space is particularly important, given the increasing digitalization of society and the active development of social media as platforms for citizen-government interaction. However, the academic community lacks comprehensive research analyzing the specifics and effectiveness of regional social media communications in the context of civic engagement. This creates a knowledge gap regarding the factors influencing successful mobilization and coordination of the population through digital platforms at the local level. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of digital platforms on increasing the effectiveness of civic engagement. This study identified key trends in social media interaction: the emergence of decentralized, adaptive, and self-organizing communication structures, as well as the transition of users to the roles of both creators and consumers of content. The key obstacles hindering the mobilization and coordination of civic initiatives were identified, including slacktivism, the incompatibility of online and offline activism, the destructive impact of digital technologies, and the influence of social bots. The study shows that social media create favorable conditions for the dissemination of civic initiatives, providing access to resources, a broad audience, and effective communication tools, thereby facilitating the growth and effectiveness of civic engagement. The findings emphasize the importance of supporting and developing digital platforms as tools for strengthening civic participation and improving public dialogue with government authorities, as well as the need to overcome identified barriers to increasing public self-organization.