Week 9: Engaged politics online

It is said that the use of new media has become an addiction. A reason why it is seen as an addiction is because individuals are given a chance to influence others with their personal opinions. People use new media such as Facebook and Twitter every day, mostly to communicate with others and to correspond about events that are currently affecting their lives. The internet has exploded with new media over the last few years and this has enabled each individual to have a personal say on the internet.

In a political sense, these new media technologies have given people an online presence and a voice. It is an opportunity to have an opinion broadcasted. New media such as Facebook and Twitter do have the potential to promote an engaged politics.

People speak and write because they want to know more about themselves and know more about other people. New media not only gives a chance for someone to voice their opinion, but also gives others the chance to comment and rebut your thought. This encourages extended thinking beyond the original thought and is educating to both parties of writers. People from across the globe have access to these social sites which helps promote a diversity of issues from all over the world. This allows individuals who use social networking, to make judgements through a global scale.


Crabtree  discusses the idea of using social networking sites and the internet to promote an engaged politics. 'The political potential of the internet lies not in connecting people to politicians [but] in the possibility of bringing citizens together to help themselves.' (Crabtree, 2003). The idea is discussed that politicians seem to be coming less truthworthy and citizens are turning to online bloggers and other online personalities to source help. 


Crabtree made me realise that the internet really can tell you anything you want to know. I know personally whenever I want something or want to know something i'll jump straight onto Google and have my answer in 5 seconds. Who can complain about that? Crabtree discusses why the benefits of the internet. I feel like we turn to people online in forums and social networking sites for advice because I know that I feel they are on the same level as me. I believe that they are regular citizens like myself and can offer me advice through their own experiences and I think this advice is much more justified. 


With the issue of Julian Assange, if there is somebody exposing these 'misconducts' to us then who are we to trust the government with our issues? How do we know what is the truth? This online activism of Wikileaks is important in ensuring we are all aware of the happenings around us, even if we aren't directly being told.