University of Hawaii at Manoa, Communication and Information Sciences PhD Program, United States
Integrating place-based knowledge in environmental management is increasingly critical, particularly in marine ecosystems where community involvement offers localized insight. However, the rise of social media complicates these efforts, exposing both managers and communities to external influences. As management moves toward legitimizing place-based conceptualizations, managers face challenges from the interconnectedness of social media platforms, where external actors—unconnected to specific environments—can influence public perception and policy from afar.
This paper examines the theoretical gap emerging between marine management and social media-based dynamics, highlighting how platforms shift the conceptual boundaries of "public" which may threaten the effective implication of place-based management. Drawing on how researchers have conceptualized publics, I explore how marine managers may struggle to legitimize local knowledge while contending with the vast reach and emotional dynamics of social media. Managers who adopt place-based policies without considering the risks emerging from social media may inadvertently reinforce dominant narratives and alienate the very communities they aim to empower. Moreover, the decentralized and rapid nature of social media communications amplifies this dilemma, as managers are often constrained by policies that limit their engagement with affective and networked publics.
By exploring these dynamics, this paper argues that marine managers need a deeper understanding of the socio-technical networks of social media to navigate the complexities of place-based management effectively. Without adapting their strategies to address new formations of public emerging from social media use, they risk undermining the very goals of community empowerment and sustainable environmental management.
