Schindler, Max, and Emese Domahidi. "Exploring citizen discussions’ potential to inform smart city agendas: Insights from German-city-centered online communities." New Media & Society (2023): 14614448231187032.

The smart city concept, aimed at addressing urbanization challenges through technological and social innovation, has faced criticism for prioritizing marketing over tangible citizen benefits. This study emphasizes the value of shared citizen knowledge and e-interaction by analyzing informal social media communication related to major German cities. Identifying nine categories of interest in citizens' discussions, the study reveals a focus on social and societal issues unlike official channels. The findings advocate for integrating citizens' perspectives into smart city decision-making processes to complement existing tools and enhance urban governance.