Abstract
Ever since the Arab Spring, social media has been praised as a means for civic engagement. Despite its positive impact, restrictions remain.
Social media has been praised for its potential for facilitating civic engagement. At a time when one of the most difficult problems facing democracy is the decline in citizens’ engagement in politics, this potential has been vested with hopes that social media can help citizens share information and knowledge – about policy and government, corporate conduct, and strategies for participation – and thus strengthen democratic participation and accountability at national and international levels. At the same time, however, sceptics have pointed to the constraints of social media, highlighting issues of commodification, security, and ‘clicktivism’.
Social media has been praised for its potential for facilitating civic engagement. At a time when one of the most difficult problems facing democracy is the decline in citizens’ engagement in politics, this potential has been vested with hopes that social media can help citizens share information and knowledge – about policy and government, corporate conduct, and strategies for participation – and thus strengthen democratic participation and accountability at national and international levels. At the same time, however, sceptics have pointed to the constraints of social media, highlighting issues of commodification, security, and ‘clicktivism’.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Publikationsdato | 2016 |
Status | Udgivet - 2016 |