The suitability of Facebook as a digital platform for constantly perform e-Participation activities: A Critical Assessment Based on the Task Technology Fit Theory

Abstract

In view of the increasing use of Facebook as a tool for e-Participation activities, the current study explores the suitability of Facebook as a digital platform for citizens to constantly perform the major three e-Participation levels; e-information, e-consultation, and e-decision making levels. In other words, do Facebook provides appropriate functions and features that would enable citizens to constantly carrying out or perform the levels of e-Participation? Based on task-technology fit theory, the study proposed model investigates the fitness between Facebook features and e-Participation levels in the context of local government. The results derived from data of 211 respondents collected by an online survey indicate that Facebook features (the technology characteristics) and e-Participation levels (task characteristics) significantly shape the degree of the task technology fit (the fit of Facebook to e-Participation levels), and such fit has a positive influence on citizens’ intention to continue participating in e-Participation initiatives implemented through Facebook. Further, the study finds that citizens are more inclined to consider Facebook as a perfect digital means for the purposes of receiving information from local governments (e-information level) and for easy contributing their opinions and views regarding specific issues (e-consultation level), even though it was at a lesser degree, rather than as proper means the e-Participation context and synergistically investigates the fitness of Facebook as a digital platform for continuously carrying out e-Participation activities. The study also provides brief insights to local government officials involved in e-Participation initiatives.