The use of social media by Saudi ministries: A preliminary study

Albahlal, Bader

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/103303 Copy

Description

Title

The use of social media by Saudi ministries: A preliminary study

Author(s)

Albahlal, Bader

Issue Date

2019-03-15

Keyword(s)

• Social media
• E-government
• Technology adoption
• Twitter
• Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Social media platforms are increasingly being used by various governments to promote information sharing and to communicate with vast numbers of citizens. In the light of these changes, the Saudi Arabian government ministries have realized the importance of social media and given it special attention. The existing literature has not emphasized on social media use in the Saudi ministries. It has also been observed that some Saudi ministries are using social media to share information but are still not fully engaged in conversation with the public. This study is the first attempt to analyze the adoption motivations and challenges associated with social media incorporation by Saudi ministries. This study uses face-to-face interviews with government account managers from different Saudi ministries and seeks to gain a deeper understanding of how different Saudi ministries use social media. This study aims to evaluate what influence the stake-holders in the Saudi ministries to adopt social media and to address the limitations and challenges of using social media. The results showed that top-management decisions, ease of use, and the popularity of certain social media platforms are the most influential factors in social media adoption among these ministries. However, the lack of existing usage policies, internal communication deficiencies, and subpar department capabilities represent challenges that limit the effective use of social media.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2019 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/103303

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21900/iconf.2019.103303

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Bader Albahlal

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