How does the internet shape the public sphere

The public shere

Today i have learnt about how the internert can shape the public sphere at a workshop with FAWMZ.

I have understood that the internet is part of the public sphere and it operates collaboratively and inclusively, working with governments, national and international organizations, Civil Society, the private sector and other parties to reach decisions that conform to our core values.

The success of the Internet depends on more than the work of one, single organization – no matter how big, diverse, or influential it may be.

Habermas develops the normative notion of the public sphere as a part of social life where citizens can exchange views on matters of importance to the common good, so that public opinion can be formed. This public sphere comes into being when people gather to discuss issues of political concern.

Habermas' work relies on a description of a historical moment during the 17th and 18th centuries when coffee houses, societies and salons became the centre of debate, and extends this to an ideal of participation in the public sphere for today.

The importance of this lies in the process of discussion, which must take the form of rational-critical debate. This debate has a set of rules which include avoiding use of emotion or emotive language, and focus on the rationality of the content alone. Participants should have a common interest in truth, which meant that they bracketed status differentials (so that participants speak as if they were equals).

Criticism is vital to this process, so that the proposals being put forward can be tested, but also so that participants can discover a meaning together as a result of the process itself.

Personally i think the internert is affecting the public issues in Zimbabwe on both good and bad sides.

For example people are able to share different views on the ineternet and one is able to say out if he or she does not agree with something and people will keep on discussing about an issie on open air.

However one can abuse that platform and tarnish somene's image using the internet,which is bad.