The role of digital networked platforms

In class we discussed 5 competing positions on the possibility of digital democracy. Robert Putnam carries a pessimistic view of digital communication as a force for disconnection and disengagement. Lincoln Dahlberg argues that digital networked platforms can enable news forms of democratic participation (liberal-individualist, deliberative, counter-publics, and autonomist Marxist). Which of these positions do you find most convincing? In spite of the competing positions on the possibility of digital democracy, the opinion that digital networked platforms enable news forms of democratic participation----liberal-individualist is the most convincing. Thanks to the modern digital networked platforms, such as computers, modern people are able to take a more active part in participating in public affairs and expressing their viewpoints.

First and foremost, it should be noticed that digital networked platforms provide people with new and more convenient channels to participate. Personal computers and other various types of digital devices are actually channels for people to access, disseminate and evaluate the latest information and happenings across the globe. As a natural result, they can participate in public affairs more actively with the rich information availability and easy accessibility of the digital devices. In the past, the only ways for people to access information were newspapers or government advocates, and the speed of receiving information was extremely low. Thus, their participation in public and political affairs was limited not only to a little extent. On the contrary, at present, it is possible for people to freely express their opinions, views and attitudes for certain news, events and affairs via the internet or other digital devices. Without the information and help provided by the government, modern people can express their selves and participate in the social affairs. A case in point, when digital devices did not come into being, during the presidential elections in the US, the voters had to make their votes and obtain the information of the presidential candidates by reading the newspapers or going to the local voting places. However, now they can give their votes without going to the fixed places, which gives them great convenience. This is why modern digital networked platforms contribute to liberal-individualistic participation.

What is more, the digital networked platforms help a growing number of people to participate. In terms of political affairs, people who had the voting rights and served government duties were allowed to participate and voice their opinions, while the rest of the population was excluded. Either due to the lack of information or the costs required for participation, some people refused to participate in public affairs. Digital networked platforms spare some people of the worries related to costs and information. As long as people have the basic access to the digital networked services and are willing to participate, they are allowed and even encouraged to participate and speak out their own attitudes and advice. For example, through the internet, the common citizens can communicate with each other, post their viewpoints and put up with suggestions for the public officials. Instead of gathering together to share information, people can access the information they need and give themselves to full expression. In some sense, digital networked platforms are both personal and public channels for people to participate in public affairs and express themselves. Some people think that digital networked platforms are the forces for disconnection and disengagement. It is true that through digital networked platforms, people will access information with great differences, diversity and variety, but it does not necessarily mean that they will be disengaged. The information diversity can also be the positive forces to motivate people to be connected and join in forces to affect public opinions.

To put it in a nutshell, digital networked platforms are news forms of liberal-individualistic democratic participation. On the one hand, it is much easier for modern people to participate in and express their views about the public affairs. On the other hand, more and more people can participate, for digital networked services are featured by easy accessibility and rich information availability.