Social Media Use in Public Administration: The Case of Facebook Use by Czech Regions

Available data on internet use by citizens indicate that participation in social networking represented one of the most common online activities in the EU-28 in 2016. Social media have been perceived as new tools that can enhance participation and inclusion of citizens and other important stakeholders in public decision-making for several years. According to available literature, the use of social media may also drive innovation in public service delivery and government operations. Research on the use of social media by Czech public authorities is rather limited and is still in its beginnings. Th e paper outlines results of web-based analysis that focused on the use of Facebook (FB) by Czech regions. Findings on practices of 13 regions (i.e. all regions in Czechia, excluding Prague for its specifics) are presented. They clearly indicate that FB is used particularly as a one-way communication channel only for some kinds of information, rather than an instrument for including citizens into public deliberations. This is in compliance with research on practices in developed as well as in transition countries. Data also show rather heterogeneous practices related to types of information that are published on FB profiles of Czech regions.