Work

Is Less More? An Analysis of Microblogs vs. Discussion Forums as Tools for Understanding the Public

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Social media platforms offer valuable tools for public administrators seeking to assess public sentiment on policy issues, especially in urban areas with diverse stakeholder interests. This study investigates how public administrators can leverage social media by comparing communications on Reddit’s discussion forum platform with X’s microblogging platform. I hypothesize that Reddit fosters more subjective, nuanced discussions, providing richer insights into public sentiment. To test this, sentiment and regression analyses are conducted on communications about urban cycling on both platforms. Results indicate that while Reddit facilitates deeper exploration of public issues, X also effectively assesses public sentiment. The study concludes by discussing how public administrators can effectively leverage insights from different social media platforms to advance the public interest.

Source: CUNY Academic Works (City University of New York)

Author: Castillo, Marco

Institution: New York City College of Technology

Language: English

Topic: E-Government and Public Services

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7160688964

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