The digitally accountable public representation database: online communication by U.S. officials

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Communication Studies
• Data Science

Background:

• Elected officials increasingly use social media platforms like X/Twitter and Facebook for communication.
• A comprehensive, systematic database is needed to analyze this digital communication.
• Existing data is fragmented, limiting large-scale analysis of public officials' online activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Digitally Accountable Public Representation (DAPR) Database.
• To provide a structured archive for tracking and analyzing the online communication of U.S. elected officials.
• To facilitate research on digital engagement, content trends, and platform activity of public officials.

Main Methods:

• Development of the DAPR Database, integrating metadata on 28,834 U.S. elected officials.
• Systematic collection and aggregation of 5,769,904 X/Twitter posts and 450,972 Facebook posts from January 2020 to December 2024.
• Creation of interconnected datasets including official metadata and weekly aggregated platform data for X/Twitter and Facebook.

Main Results:

• The DAPR Database currently houses data on 28,834 public officials and millions of social media posts.
• Weekly aggregated data offers insights into posting volumes, engagement metrics, and content trends.
• The database structure supports ongoing expansion to include new officials and platforms.

Conclusions:

• The DAPR Database offers a robust framework for analyzing the digital communication of U.S. elected officials.
• This resource enhances research utility for understanding political communication in the digital age.
• The database's design ensures long-term relevance for studying evolving online engagement strategies.