Abstract
Recently some Japanese local governments have started providing local residents with their information and communicating with local residents and potential visitors by using social media such as Facebook and Twitter in addition to the traditional media such as monthly information magazines and fliers and relative new media such as internet website and BBS (Bulletin Board Service). Though a lot of local governments are interested in social media, few studies have done to clarify the effects and risks of information provision and communication through social media. In this study, based on a nationwide web-survey conducted in 2014, we try to reveal the current state and problems of utilizing social media in the field of public hearing and public relations activities.
