Social Media and Generalized Functions of the Public Sphere: Transformative Potentials From a Comparative Perspective

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session I
  In Interactive Paper Session: Political Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Almost since the advent of the World Wide Web there has been great interest in analyzing and understanding online communication from the perspective of public sphere theory. However, this area of research is plagued by some common shortcomings of implicit theoretical premises and consequently of their empirical realization. The aim of the paper is twofold. First, we tackle these shortcomings with a hierarchical model of generalized functions of public sphere. On a theoretical level, we interweave different strands of thought on the public sphere, and the resulting model is more inclusive and less rigid than those strands on their own. Second, we empirically explore the plausibility of our model in a global comparative analysis. Based on this approach, future research can be contextualized: Case-study based research can plausibly articulate expectations regarding the impact of social media on the public sphere.

Authors

• Adrian Rauchfleisch, University of Zurich - IPMZ

• Marko Kovic, U of Zurich - IPMZ