This study examines the police use of social networking sites.
Police departments (PDs) are increasingly using social networking sites (SNS) as a method of public communication. Over 75 percent of the largest U.S. departments currently have a presence on at least one of the three major SNS i.e., Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. However, little is known about how departments are actually using these sites. To explore this issue, the authors conducted a content analysis of messages posted by the 23 largest U.S. PDs using Facebook over a 3-month period. The results indicate that the content pattern was, to some extent, dependent upon the frequency that departments posted messages. Departments posting more frequently typically used Facebook for crime-related messages, whereas those posting less often were more likely to convey public relations messages. The authors also identified several message characteristics associated with greater responsiveness on the part of individuals following departments on Facebook. Policy implications of these trends are discussed. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.