The Internet as a 'Public Sphere'

Habermas wrote about the 'public sphere' as a system where individuals could express their opinions and share them with other individuals. The media, such as newspapers could be a kind of 'public sphere', as they have a role in addressing questions about social issues and also criticizing the political power. A few classmates talked about how the internet fuctions as a public sphere. Clearly(as Habermas explains) media such as newpapers and TV news have become a place for competition of private interests, in which many cases the interest of the powerful win. The media has become less critical, more sensational, and less concerning of the 'public interest'.And media has been mostly a one-way process, the few creators injecting information to the audience. The audience did not have an accessible, convenient outlet to show their opinions, until the advent of the Internet.

I do think the features of the Internet-blogs, commenting, and accessibility-help people from all over the world share ideas and contest againstthe dominating ideas from the (previous) mainstream media. However, the internet can be used by the powerful to manipulate people and spread ideologies, and spread information that are in favor of certain parties. And since the circualtion of info is so quick and contributors in some way anonymous it can be done with less effort.A very basic example is the commenting or rating about movies on the internet. This seems to be collecting public opinion, but 'anyone' couldcomment or vote-meaning people who need the movie to be seen as a good one could add fake comments. People could be paid to do this, or corporatemembers can disguise themselves as consumers and put in a good word for a specific product. It's the same for politicians and social issues. Rumors can be spread to make the 'opposite' side to look bad, with no confirmation about whether the information is true or not.

Also the anonymity of the internet causes people to be more careless when they express their opinions. There is an on going debateabout the abolition of anonymity in the Internet. Some people think the government is just trying to get hold of people who are critical about thepolicies of the government, and freedom of speech would be impossible once anonymity is not ensured.

The problem of consummerism in the internet is also an issue. Bloggers post what they think about some product or some place. First it's justlike a diary, the postings casual. Later on businesses in all areas find bloggers who have the ability to write a good posting, and use them as amarketing point. Some publishing companies also publish a book based on the postings of a blog-travel guides, cookbooks, DIY book, and so on(Since the cost is relatively lowand the content popular because it 'seems' candid). The internet is a source where people could express opinions right away, and read what others think. However there are many problems such as those above-which makes the Internet to have limits as a public sphere. The contents could be just as fabricated and turned into a tool to make profit, or earn publicity.