CCM 201: COMMUNICATION AND NEW MEDIA

LESSON 6: DIGITAL DEMOCRACY

Introduction

Digital democracy refer to the collection of attempts to practice democracy without the
limits of time, space and other physical conditions using new media as an addition not
replacement for traditional analogue practices.

It can be argued that ideal democratic public sphere allow for interactivity or deliberative
democracy, openness and accessibility to all, unfettered freedom of expression and
freedom of information exercised and enjoyed within the context of just laws, supremacy
of, and loyalty to a ‘rational’ and ‘critical’ discourse as opposed to threats and violence.
Internet and democracy
There are various factors that facilitate the use of internet for democratic purposes

a). The internet is an open platform. Although participation on the internet is curtailed
by several factors such as; access, costs, censorship, lack of technological literacy and
technophobia, it can still be argued that internet is a relatively open and accessible public
sphere where anyone who has access to a wired computer can freely express their views
as long as they remain within the law and do not infringe on other people’s rights.

However, the openness of much of the internet as a public sphere can be seen in the
diversity and plurality of the voices on the net that are represented by the websites of
political parties (right and left wing), christian and muslim sites (radical and moderates),
civil society and government sites, that coexist with each other online. The plurality and
diversity of these sites (some with hyperlinks) make the Internet potentially the biggest
single public sphere. Through the usage of email, e-chats and webcasting to create
democratic discussions between members, the Internet can also be regarded as a fairly
autonomous and independent public sphere.

b). Internet is hyper- interactive medium- internet interactivity implies that Computer
Mediated Communication (CMC) must approximate the dialogic, deliberative,
communicative and democratic ideals. Online interactivity can be defined as;

 -the means that are available on the Internet that generate electronic conversations
or discussions (audio, video or text) that can approximate real-life verbal
exchanges that were the basis for the face to face democratic public sphere.
  -interactivity can also be seen as referring to a range of ways by which users can
interact with and participate in shaping, modifying, redefining and expanding
online texts. Technically, this may include editing, attaching, forwarding texts and
even creating hyperlinking counter-texts to the existing myriad of texts online

Interactivity online is manifested through a number of applications such as email,

computer-to-mobile text messaging, electronic chats and discussions, forwarding and
voiceovers (Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)). Most of these functions and
applications make the Internet a unique medium in the sense that unlike radio or
television that is somewhat locked within a transmission, top-down and linear model of
communication, the Internet seemingly enhances lateral, interactive and discursive
communication where there is not excessive gatekeeping.
However the open and interactive aspects of internet;

 It is an opportunity that may be realized and taken advantage of by other people,

ignored by some, is ambivalent to others, lost by the weak or poor or hijacked by
the strong and dominant

 The strong and dominant commercial and political interests in society always take
advantage of New Media to promote their sectional interests.

 Technological literacy -The interactive potential of all these applications can only
be achieved if the Internet users are able to manipulate the Internet’s interactive
potential to the fullest.

c). The internet convergence- Unlike the old analogue media, the Internet brings in a
convergence of text, audio and the visual in political dialogue in the public sphere.
Convergence is the integration or fusion of media of diverse textual backgrounds such as
newspapers, radio and television, to form one robust versatile medium. It can also be
seen as the ‘co-operation’, ‘alliance’ or ‘merger’ between print, broadcasting and online
media

d). The internet is not linear - As far as the Internet is concerned, we cannot speak of the
senders and receivers of information in the traditional transmission sense of old
communication technologies. In Internet communication, senders can be receivers and
receivers can be senders of information. The Internet, therefore, changes the conventional
relationship between the senders and receivers by making it dynamic, fluid and dialogic
– elements which are linchpins of egalitarian political public spheres where discussions
must materialize into solutions to certain political questions

e). The internet is amenable with other media in the sense of cooperation-For example,
through email, the Internet can communicate with mobile phones, television, and also
provide feedback to other online media like online and offline newspapers. Hence, it can
be argued that the Internet has such an immense communicative potential for those who
are able to use it because ‘its applications provide radically new opportunities for the
handling, storing, distribution and processing of all forms of information (visual, audio,
data, etc.) within a common digital mode’

f). the internet is a flexible communication system that is responsive to user based
innovation and one that represents significant new opportunities for “horizontal” non-
commercial and more egalitarian forms of communication

g). Digitization and hypertextuality on the Internet- Internet user is well ‘armed’ with
ubiquitous information to support logical debates in both online and offline public
spheres. Hypertext and hyperlinks lead Internet users as public sphere participants to
more information and related information sources, which, as argued earlier, if used
properly can promote more critical and analytical interaction in online and ‘offline’ public
spheres since the public sphere must be ideally constituted of a reading public.

Information and information access are two most critical resources for any public sphere
and hypertextuality and digitization make the Internet possibly the largest repository of
information. Furthermore, although some of the information is protected and given an
economic value, most of the information online from the media, civic organizations,
government, political parties and some international organizations is freely accessible to
all Internet users thus implying active participation in the public sphere of the Internet
by those who are connected

h). compression of time and space on internet –

Problems of the internet as a democratic public sphere
i. Social exclusion due to poverty

ii. Prohibitive costs of cutting-edge technologies

iii. Shrinking public and individual access due to corporate profiteering

iv. Counter surveillance technologies

v. poor connectivity

vi. poor technologies

vii. lack of relevant content

viii. technophobia

ix. commercial intrusions like pop-up adverts

x. Virus attacks.
Mobile Phones and participatory democracy
Mobile phones are proving central in participatory democracy as a voting gadget, even
in the LDCs (least developed countries) of Africa. People use mobile phone technology
to express themselves on salient issues that have to do with global justice or even local
issues that affect national development. They talk, share text messages and emails to
make informed choices about important issues of national concern such as elections,
referendums, national and workers’ strikes

In countries that are fraught with legal restrictions on mass media, mobile phones are
increasingly used for networking and mobilization by civic groups

Journalism, a profession which is seen largely as an epitome of the public sphere, makes
extensive uses of mobile technology to further broaden and augment its discursive
potential through a myriad of ways that are available through mobile technology data
services and email.
Mobile Phone functions and potential use
Mobile phone functions comprise, inter alia, making and receiving voice or video calls,
SMS (also referred to colloquially as ‘texting’) mobile Internet, radio, television, faxing (if
connected to a computer), auto roaming, call diverting and digital camera.

Text messaging is normally done mobile to mobile, but in some countries even in Africa,
one can also ‘text’ fixed line phones, computers or television. Full mobile Internet allows
the mobile phone user to surf for information, send and receive emails and access other
online-based media that provide news.

The convergence of the mobile phone with other media like the Internet and radio creates
greater hope for its public sphere potential, but needless to say, these functions are not of
any use by themselves. Their capacity to create democratic conversations among citizens
and between the rulers and the ruled, not only depends on the people’s ability to use
them, but also on the political, regulatory, technological and socio-cultural regimes of any
given nation.

Making and receiving calls is the basic functions of a mobile phone and yet if looked at
closely from a communicative democracy perspective, it is no ordinary activity. Given
that freedom of expression is the linchpin of the public sphere, the mobile phone can be
seen as having a potential for dialogic democracy. In terms of their voice communication
potential, mobile phones can make one-to-one calls and group calls where participants
can discuss any ideas ranging from business to politics. In most cases, mobile phone
conversations lay the foundation for the pursuit of issues in depth mostly through
interpersonal or group communication.

The mobile is a multidimensional and complex gadget.

- It is a public sphere in its own right through mobile radio, mobile Internet, mobile
television

-it acts as a basis for arranging face-to-face group discursive forums.

Interactive group calls on mobile phones approximate the public sphere interactive
exchange although one can also argue that mobile phone verbal exchanges are not that
interactive or flexible like face-to-face discussions.

Technology failures like poor reception, breaks or network cuts, and other types of
‘noises’ may undermine the quality of mobile phone-executed discussions

The mobile phone has opened up a communication channel for citizens that were
previously marginalized by other forms of telecommunication while also extending the
interactive capacity of those that have always been in the mainstream of mass media and
other forms of communications. For example, in most LDCs, ordinary people who do not
have a fixed line but are now in possession of a mobile phone are able to participate on
live radio and television talk shows, hence the direct link with broader public spheres
through the mobile phone.

Mobile phone is a means of not only accessing but also participating in main public
spheres of the mass media like radio and television. Auto roaming further augments an
individual’s chances of remaining within the public sphere in time and space as both an
audience and a participant in mass media discussions.

Texting as a function of mobile phone allow for interactive public spheres particularly for
the youth. In parts of Africa, for example, ‘texting’ has not only been used in referendums,
but continues to be used to support other ‘guerrilla media’ in the mobilization,
organization and co-ordination of mass protests. The mobile phone’s influence on the
civil society can also be seen from the way the gadget is taking a central role in advocacy
at a continental level

Unprecedented expansive and pervasive nature of the mobile phone, imply a greater
public sphere where all members who are participants are potentially accessible
anywhere and anytime in the world (be they in the street, bus, train, bathroom, or even
toilet) as long as there is connectivity. The freedom provided by the mobile phone,
indeed, means that people are always available, even when moving as it maximizes their
contact potential
The expansive and pervasiveness of the mobile phone public sphere is supported further
by such functions as roaming and call divert. Roaming allows a mobile phone user to use
their mobile phone internationally and still link with family, friends, colleagues and the
media as if she/he is in his or her country. Call diverting links fixed line with mobile line
so that a mobile user can receive those calls directed at home or work when she/he is on
holiday. The divert and roaming functions, in a way, render the answering machine
obsolete.1

1
Moyo, L. (2009) “Digital Democracy: Enhancing the Public Sphere.” IN. Creeber G., & Martin, R. Digital cultures:
Understanding New Media. New York: Open University Press