Social Media, Political Engagement, and the Australian Political Public Sphere

• In Event: Social Media and the New Politics of Engagement Across the Lifespan

Abstract

Social media are seen to have had a growing influence on politics, and the political public sphere. The exact nature of that influence, however, is a contested one. Some have argued that a participatory shift has taken place, while others have claimed that the real impact of social media on the political process remains marginal, with ‘official’ voices still dominating. There is also debate about the relative significance of social media in political campaigning as compared to conventional media channels. This paper, drawing on interviews with media practitioners (journalists, media advisors, etc.) and focus groups with Australian voters, assesses competing claims about the role social media plays in the Australian political public sphere. It aims to assess the role that social media plays in the political media system as a whole, their significance in the news-gathering activities of citizens, and whether these technologies advance voters’ engagement with the political realm.

Authors

• Terry Flew, Queensland U of Technology

• Stephen Harrington, Queensland U of Technology