Ubiquitous local community experiences: unravelling the social added value of neighborhood-related social media

Abstract

Neighborhood-related social media uses are rapidly spreading, with citizens using already existing social media with community-related aims too. This has deeply modified how citizens can experience their neighborhoods and cities, making them more complex - and ubiquitous - social ecosystems. The present study aims at deepening the impact of such social media uses in terms of non-material, relational and community goods - that is, their social added value (SAV) for individuals and communities. The results show two main categories of such SAV: the enrichment in terms of local social relationships, and the promotion of citizens' active in-volvement in and engagement for their community and its members. The theoretical and practical implications stemming from these results will be deepened.