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Top1. Introduction
The advent of social media using Web 2.0 technologies is called on to play an important role in implementing open government and in rendering online public services (Noveck, 2009). It is especially relevant in the municipal context, where local governments are increasingly embracing Web 2.0 technologies in order to encourage direct citizen involvement (Peters, 2001). Indeed, social media have become a central component of e-government in a very short period of time (Bertot, Jaeger, & Hansen, 2012). These instruments differ from first-generation web-based resources in the potential they have to transform public administration services, enabling participation and involvement of citizens in public sector services (Mintz, 2008) (see Table 1 in the Appendix).
Nonetheless, policy makers must be aware that the existing public service culture of hierarchical control and direction must change radically to encourage and reward engagement. This way, the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies in public administrations is forcing a reconsideration of the administrative structures of governments and the fostering of open, user-driven governance (Bertot, Jaeger, & Grimes, 2010a; Bertot, Jaeger, & Grimes, 2010b; Bertot et al, 2010c; Millard, 2009). In fact, a lively debate in the political arena is the governance model to be used when Web 2.0 technologies are embraced by public administrations.
In addition, according to the Uses and Gratifications Theory (Katz, Blumler, & Gurevitch, 1974; McQuail, 1995), citizens will probably make greater demands for some form of reward for their involvement in the co-production of e-services, making it necessary to ensure the perception of user-added value and greater control by citizens of the e-services process, as has been achieved in the private sector (Wirtz, Piehler, & Ullrich, 2013).
Therefore, Web 2.0 could require government organizations to face certain risks, including the possibility of the digital divide, a focus on the politically charged short-term delivery of goals and results, the absence of a long-term strategy for managing the risk and renewal cycle involved in service innovation (Cromer, 2010). So, what is needed at this point in the evolution of Web 2.0 technologies and applications is to open up a debate regarding policy makers’ perceptions of the reasons, benefits and risks of Web 2.0 investments in the context of a proven framework for effective governance of public services – one that highlights potential advances in citizen-centric governance and weighs these against both the costs and the inevitable risks posed by any new technology. Such a debate could foster the introduction of Web 2.0 technologies in public services delivery.
Policy makers become relevant in this framework because they are involved in the policy-making process within local government, and they have direct involvement in the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies in public sector delivery. Nonetheless, the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies could be different according to the size of the municipality. The largest cities have generally been at the forefront in the adoption of innovations in e-government (Moon, 2002) and have more need to do so for public sector delivery, due to the greater complexity involved (Torres, Pina, & Acerete, 2005) and because they are obliged to develop and deliver efficient services to the public (Cegarra, Córdoba, & Moreno, 2012). Thus, the size of the local government could introduce differences regarding the use and experiences on public sector services under the Web 2.0 era. This could make policy makers to have different perceptions about the reasons, advantages, risks and governance models in the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies for providing public services.