Abstract
This chapter explored the use of social media geographic information in governance and policy-making. Social media geographic information has great potential to impact decision-making, citizen engagement, service delivery, crisis management, innovation, policy formation and evaluation, and public opinion assessment. However, challenges such as data quality, privacy concerns, data overload, standardization, limited access, ethics, technical issues, language barriers, and limited geographic coverage also arose. To address these challenges, policymakers should establish clear guidelines, ensure data accuracy, address privacy concerns, manage data overload, and promote ethical practices. Real-world applications in disaster response, traffic management, urban planning, air quality monitoring, disease outbreak tracking, and flood monitoring are also described. By harnessing social media geographic information while addressing challenges, policymakers can make informed decisions that benefit society.
TopSmart Governance
Governance refers to the collaborative approach to achieving collective goals through coordinated efforts(Willke, 2007). According to Stoker, (1998), governance is creating a conducive environment for “ordered rule and collective actions”. The goal of governance is to administer the citizens through effective management of citizens’ affairs. Governance encompasses decision-making, policy formulation, and implementation, as well as developing strategies and mechanisms for accountability and transparency. Governance is a multifaceted process that is steered by authorities and mechanisms(Paquet, 1999).Governance has been in use through various terminologies such as good governance, open governance, digital governance, e-governance, g-governance,urban governance, smart governance, and many more.