Charting Inclusive Digital Society Research Trends: A Bibliometric Analysis of E-Participation Through Social Media

Abstract

This study analyzed 287 articles on e-participation within social media, which were retrieved from the Scopus online databases as of 11 December 2022. The aim was to identify crucial areas and significant contributors within the field and recent research trends. The findings indicate that the trend of e-participation was slow to start, with researchers primarily from Western nations. The field still struggles to establish itself as an independent area of research, and identity-related issues are prevalent. In addition, the subject of e-participation through social media has received limited attention in the literature, with a focus on politicians’ groups and minimal consideration of government-driven initiatives. This study is among the first to analyze bibliometric trends in e-participation literature related to social media. It is revealed that the publication trends on e-participation did not portray any consistent increment over the years, although the adoption of ICT in public sectors is happening at a peak rate. The findings can guide future research in this area and underscore the importance of considering government-driven initiatives in e-participation research, as they play a critical role in shaping digital democracy. Nonetheless, it is essential to interpret these findings deliberately, as the dataset solely covers the Scopus database and may not comprehensively cover all available sources. Finally, the study serves as a basis for future investigations in the field of e-participation and social media.