The internet is a media that is interactive. Unlike watching television or listening to the radio, internet users can comment their opinions on news and politicians are even using Facebook to try to get people to become members of the party they´re representing. For an example, those who become „friend of the Conservatives“ in the United States on Facebook will reicieve regular updates and advice on getting involved.
Using social networking sites to drum up political supports is having a huge impact on politics in general, voters and the political environment as well. The internet provides a certain restraint on politicians since messages, videos and news travel fast and anyone who´s interested, or isn´t interested but clicks accidently on the wrong button, will now see straight away if a politician makes mistakes or does something to offend voters. On the other hand though politicians have a broader range of getting into peoples´ homes just by a single message on Facebook or a video on Youtube.
The big question it whether more activity online is actually getting more poeple interested in politics and are poeple getting the right message through. Using propaganda for certain interests groups makes it easy to manipulate what people think regarding high profiled issues. It´s known that videos are seomtimes being edited before they are put on the internet so people should be aware of who got the message online before taking sides and judging on the matter right away.
Ingibjörg Ýr
Ingibjörg Ýr
Its interesting to view the internet's role here with the idea of social capital.
ReplyDeleteDoes the increase in connectivity online equal an increase to the connectivity that is supposed to build up social capital. Or is it the wrong type of connectivity, does it allow negative social capital to be built up too easily, bonding rather than bridging. Or is it even a strong enough form of connection - and if not is our use of the internet coming at the expense of more valuable and more democratically beneficial areas of culture and social capital