Beyond Engagement Metrics: Building Authentic Participation and Civic Trust in Digital Governance Nurul Hidayati (a*), Ni^matul Faizah (b)
a) Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
*nh430[at]ums.ac.id
b) The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
Abstract
Background: Public participation is increased by digital governance, but dependence on engagement indicators frequently makes it difficult to determine if online participation is genuine or manipulated.
The purpose: This study looks at how genuine engagement and civic trust may be strengthened through digital governance, going beyond likes, shares, comments, and visibility. This article examines research on digital governance, strategic communication, pseudo-participation, public engagement, and trust using a systematic literature review.
Finding: According to the review, recognizing deceptive actors like political buzzers is not enough to foster true involvement. Rather, it necessitates the governance of communicative circumstances, such as communication accountability, institutional responsiveness, openness, verification, deliberative spaces, ethical data usage, and substantive evaluation of participation.
In conclusion, In addition to offering channels for participation, digital governance should guarantee that public voices are generated, amplified, validated, and addressed in reliable ways. According to this concept, genuine engagement is a powerful tool for influencing public opinion, boosting civic confidence, and bolstering institutional legitimacy.
Keywords: digital governance, genuine involvement, civic trust, engagement metrics, strategic communication
Topic: Strategic Communication in the Digital Sphere: Cultivating Civic Trust through Data-Driven Approaches (Digital Communication- Public Communication Strategy- Civic Trust)
