Solidarity and digital transparency. Websites and social networks of the Spanish social action NGOs

Abstract

The economic crisis has led to a drastic reduction in the funding granted by the public administrations to NGOs, which have also lost part of the social trust that they have enjoyed for decades. But there is another way to contribute more funding and legitimacy to these organizations, and this way is based on transparency and accountability. This research aims to determine if the Third Sector of Social Action (TSAS) is encouraging the participation of new digital citizens through public information based on the accountability and the transparency culture. For this purpose, we performed a content analysis on the social networks used by these entities in order to determine if they had taken advantage of the opportunities to be accountable for their activities, which can result in greater citizen participation and involvement in solidarity action.