ABSTRACT
This chapter examines change in online information and interactivity scores for the websites of the 75 largest US cities between 2009 and 2011—a period that was marked by federal initiatives and the rapid growth of social media use. Over this period, major cities that were further behind hurried to catch up with their peers in both information and interactivity, especially in the adoption of social networks. The spread of new digital tools and shifting agendas at the federal level might stimulate changes throughout the federal system. Interactivity on local government websites includes customization of information to suit citizen preferences and mechanisms for online participation. The online interactivity index integrates the following online features: participatory tools such as blogs, comment forms, electronic town meetings, online surveys, or social network sites; online customization of information search; and tools to facilitate interaction, such as search engines and downloadable forms.
