ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors briefly reflect on relevant literature and augment it with additional discussion on previous uses of social media, before moving on to the research study. The growing importance of understanding social media can be seen through, for example, funding streams from UKRI that are charged with understanding, interpreting, and translating the implications of social media for practice. The chapter explores whether social media might provide the means for forms of citizen participation methods that can overcome some of barriers currently experienced by people wishing to engage in and with planning in a more formal capacity. It also investigates and assesses the extent to which citizens discuss place and planning-related issues via social media, but do not engage with planning in a formal capacity. In terms of using the social media platform for meaningful engagement about place-based issues, analysis of Twitter indicated this to be an almost near-impossible task given the judgemental and vitriolic opinions evident.
