Public Administration Commons^™

Looking For Friends, Fans And Followers? Social Media Use In Public And Nonprofit Human Services, David Campbell, Kristina T. Lambright, Christopher J. Wells

Public Administration Faculty Scholarship

This article uses interviews and internet data to examine social media use among nonprofit organizations and county departments involved in the delivery of human services in a six-county area in South Central New York State. Social media use was modest; and nonprofit organizations were much more likely to use it than county departments. Organizations used social media primarily to market organizational activities, remain relevant to key constituencies and raise community awareness. Most organizations either had a narrow view of social media’s potential value or lacked long-term vision. Barriers to use included institutional policies, concerns about its inappropriateness for target audiences, …