Abstract
This four-essay thesis examines the evolving landscape of corporate reporting through social media. The first chapter is a systematic review article that thoroughly investigates the existing body of research on the application of corporate communication through social media platforms. Through examining and analysing 136 peer-reviewed journals, the review highlights trends in research, geographical focus, methodology, platforms studied, theoretical frameworks used, and thematic analysis of social media practices, determinants, and impacts in a corporate context. Building on the systematic review, the empirical chapters examine the determinants and consequences of X (formerly known as Twitter), focusing on UK non-financial firms listed on the FTSE All-Shares from 2016 to 2022. The empirical chapters investigate how the various corporate governance structures influence the adoption and extent of Twitter use for financial and ESG disclosures, assess its impact on financial metrics like the cost of capital, and explore how governance mechanisms shape the tone and effectiveness of ESG disclosures in engaging stakeholders.Findings advocate that Twitter serves as a significant medium for ESG disclosure, potentially affecting a firm's financial landscape by contributing to the cost of debt. Moreover, the findings reveal that while stakeholders' engagement with ESG-related communications on Twitter is high, it is primarily driven by the content's substance rather than the disclosure's tone. Additionally, the study stresses the strategic use of Twitter by firms to highlight their ESG achievements, rather than for impression management, with corporate governance mechanisms playing a significant role in shaping the narrative tone of ESG disclosures.
This thesis contributes to the academic dialogue on corporate disclosure by offering an in-depth analysis of social media's role in modern corporate reporting, with a novel focus on corporate governance. It provides valuable insights into the strategic employment of social media for ESG disclosure, emphasising the critical role of corporate governance in shaping disclosure practices, tone, and stakeholder engagement. These findings accentuate the importance of corporate managers and policymakers considering the strategic implications of social media communication, particularly in sustainability reporting, within the governance framework.
| Date of Award | 16 Jul 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisor | Khaled Hussainey (Supervisor) & Khaldoon Albitar (Supervisor) |