## 5 Social Media Applications and e-Government  
### The Role of Social Media in Public Administration  
Social media have become integral parts of modern public administration, contributing to the creation of a more transparent and participatory communication framework between governments and citizens [39; 40; 41; 42; 43]. In contrast to traditional e-Government services characterized by a one-way flow of information (government-to-citizen), social media offer new possibilities for two-way communication, allowing citizens not only to receive information, but also to comment, make suggestions and co-shape public policies. Transparency is enhanced as information is disseminated more directly and widely, while government agencies are called upon to respond and publicly account for questions and concerns. Especially in times of crisis or in cases of important public announcements, social media can function as key information channels, bypassing bureaucracy and reducing the time delay in disseminating critical information.  
However, this new form of communication also comes with challenges, such as privacy issues, information security problems and the risk of spreading inaccurate or misleading information.  
According to a survey conducted among small local governments in Nebraska, Facebook and Twitter are the two most popular social media platforms used by local governments to communicate with the public.  
Facebook is primarily used to provide information and strengthen existing social ties within a local community. Governments use it as a complementary information channel, posting announcements, information about events and reminders about deadlines, such as paying bills or submitting applications. Twitter, on the other hand, is used more for rapid dissemination of information, such as real-time updates (e.g., weather conditions, emergencies, various events) and for broadcasting political decisions and announcements. The platform allows for the rapid dissemination of messages to a broad audience, even to users who are not directly connected to the local community. However, despite the potential for interactivity, the use of these two platforms by local governments remains largely one-way, focusing more on information and less on participatory decision-making.  
Nebraska is a prime example of the use of social media by small local governments. A 2015 survey found that 44.8% of small local governments use Facebook, while 31% use Twitter. These governments have adopted social media as a tool that is complementary to traditional e-Government services, but with distinct approaches [44]. Nebraska's small local government sections use Facebook more for providing transactional services (e.g., paying bills, registering for services), leveraging its popularity and the ability for users to share such information within their network. Twitter, in contrast, is preferred for public policy updates, announcements and general information, due to its ability to disseminate content in real time and to a wider audience. The research also revealed that factors such as population density, budget and institutional policies significantly influence Facebook adoption, while Twitter usage appears to be more independent of such factors. Smaller and less organized local government departments are hesitant to invest in managing social media accounts, mainly due to a lack of expertise and staff.