Social media platforms have assumed a central role in our daily lives, and transportation planning is no exception. Platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Tiktok are regularly used for discussing and disseminating information about transportation projects and ideas to a wide audience. The YouTube channels City Beautiful and Not Just Bikes, for example, have amassed 60M and 87M views, respectively. This panel will discuss opportunities and challenges around the growing role of social media in transportation planning, including:

• Communicating technical concepts to new audiences

• Inspiring more members of the public to get involved in consultations

• Encouraging more young people to enter the profession

• Managing the polarizing nature of social media and the potential for spreading of misinformation