Keywords
Online public opinion
Government governance
Public opinion absorption
Public decision-making
Submitted : 2026-02-17
Accepted : 2026-03-04
Published : 2026-03-19
Abstract
Social media has become the main channel for public opinion expression and public discussion, reshaping the interaction between the government and the people. It brings opportunities for governance transformation while also challenging the traditional closed system. This paper focuses on how social media public opinion functions in government governance through the “public opinion absorption” mechanism, using literature and comparative research. The conclusion shows that it has a dual nature in public opinion absorption: it broadens channels and enhances the scientific and democratic nature of decision-making, but also poses risks of absorption disorder due to emotionalization and fragmentation. It is suggested to improve institutionalized absorption, enhance data governance and public opinion discrimination, strengthen governance accuracy and response, and build a benign interactive network governance pattern.
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