Navigating the Blue Line: Social Media's Impact on Public Perception of the Police

• In Event: Crime and Justice in Digital Media

Abstract

The relationship between the portrayal of police on social media and public perception of the police, especially during the time of crises, is both critical and under-investigated. Though a social media explosion is only a recent phenomenon, studies have found that social media impacts all aspects of our social institutions as well as individual and group behaviors. Using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and content analysis of 800 trending social media pots in the United States examining video imagery, depicted actions, and accompanying textual content, this study dissects the police image as portrayed on social media and explores impactful factors. By analyzing the social media-driven narratives, the study further reveals the mechanisms through which social media platforms construct and reshape the police image. This study sheds light on how social media serve as a dynamic medium for framing police images, thereby providing a foundational step towards understanding the digital construction of law enforcement's public relations.

Author

• Qingyang Hong, University of Nevada, Las Vegas