Ch+26+The+Virtual+Sphere++(Zizi+Papacharissi)

__Virtual Spheres __ Cyber optimists believe that new media technology promises further democratization of post industrial society. Some believe that online discourse will increase political participation. Cyber pessimists beileve that the technology is not universally accessible and that it induces fragmentation.
 * Introduction**


 * Public Sphere
 * As public space the internet provides a forum for poltitical deliberation such that it enhances discussion, however, the public sphere facilitiates discussion that promotes a democratic exchange of ideas and opinions such that it enhances democracy.

Habermas saw the public sphere as a domain of our social life in which public opinion could be formed out of rational public debate. However Lyotard critiques Habermas by saying that the internet functions as a realm for privileged men and excludes women and lower clases. Thus multiple public spheres emerge as these marginalized groups which are not powerful, articulate or priveleged give voice to collective identities and interests. Therefore the ideal public sphere is impossible.


 * Information Access
 * Access doesn`t guarentee increased political activity, information access is dependent on barriers of access and the digital divide among other things. The internet provides an avenue for political expression and ways to infulence politics and becomes politically active. Online discussion parallels real life such that it is dominated by elites. Advantages of the internet is that it connects the government to the citizen and provides a place for personal expression. Only a small portion of the population contributes to the electronic sphere because it is exclusive and elite. Not all information available on the internet is democratic or promotes democracy ie. white supremacy groups. Those who have access are also equipped with additional tools to be more active citizens and participants of the public sphere.


 * Globalization or Tribalization
 * Utopian perspective asserts that computer mediated political communication will bring people across the world closer and geographic boundaries can be overcome and diasporic utopias can flourish. However, Hill and Hughes emphasize the possibility of global miscommunication between people of different cultural backgrounds.

In a political system where the role of teh people is limited in teh online community, political expression leaves people with a false sense of empowerment. Our interconnectedness is also affected becaus ethe internet becomes more fragmented with increasing diversified opinions. Special interest groups attract those of certain topics thus the virtual mass becomes more and more subdivided into smaller discussion groups.


 * Commercialization
 * Advertising revenue has more impact on programming than democratic ideals. Concentration of ownership and standardization of programming undermines the democratizing potential of the mass media.


 * Virtual Spaces
 * Cyberspace is a pblic and private space which proves people a space to re-create oneès collective and personal identity. Cyberspace extends our channels of communication without changing the nature of communication. McChennsey argued that new technologies adapt to political culture ratehr than creating a new one. The internet has the potential to change how one conceives themself and the world around them, but it will do so in a way that adheres to the public sphere becasue we leave our physical boundaries in cyberspace. The internet promotes sciality but it has yet to be proved if it promotes solidarity.

Sources:

Castells, Manuel. __"Image of he Future Information Society"__ The Information Society Reader. Ed. Frank Webster, Raimo Blom, Erkki Karvonen, Harri Melin, Kaarle Nordenstreng, and Ensio Puoskari. London and New York: Routledge, 2004. pp 379-390.