Investigating the Use of Web 2.0 Technologies and their Presence in Saudi Government Agencies' Websites

Abstract

Government agencies in both developed and developing countries have started using social media to provide content and services. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of social media in Saudi government agencies. It adopts a quantitative approach. The study shows that Saudi government agencies are aware of social media and they use them for different purposes. The study argued that government agencies with less engagement with the public are less likely to use social media. Government agencies tend to publish the same content in different social media. Moreover, information dissemination and improving communication with the public were the main motivations for using social media. In terms of enablers, the study shows that awareness of the public about the importance of social media usage was an important issue. Regarding the challenges, lack of dedicated resources such as budget and specialized staff were the main challenges. The study contributes to the literature by addressing issues related to motivation, factors influenced the decision to adopt social media, enablers and barriers.