Building the sustainable city through Twitter: Creative skilled migrants and innovative technology use. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Monachesi, Paola; Witteborn, Saskia
• Is Part Of: Telematics and informatics. Volume 58(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Creative migrants -- Smart city -- Social media -- Sustainability -- Technology -- Twitter; Telecommunication -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Télécommunications -- Périodiques; Réseaux d'ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2020.101531
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5853

Abstract

Highlights: Investigate social and political impact of technology in shaping sustainable cities. Focus on communication of creative migrants (architects and designers) on Twitter. Innovative mixed method combining quantitative and qualitative social media analysis. Creative migrants broadcast technology use that can foster sustainable developments. Creative skilled migrants promote a Western model of the smart city. Social media analysis informs innovative technological sustainability models. Abstract: We investigate the role of creative skilled migrants in broadcasting an alternative use of technology in support of a sustainable smart city. We do so by analyzing the themes they produced on Twitter. We focus on Amsterdam as a case, and urban planners and designers as examples of creative migrants. Computational methodology allowed for a selection of naturally occurring data in social media. We show that the creative migrants actively contribute to shaping the smart-sustainable city through the themes of top-down technological solutions and bottom-up participation by highlighting innovative uses of technology in support of the environment and citizens' needs. However, the migrants do not question received historical and geopolitical power constellations. Moreover, they propose the Western city as a role model for solving pressing urban problems.