The blogosphere

The blogosphere  is what we are participating in right now as I write this post, and you read it. It is made up of all the blogs in the world and is a place for people to put their thoughts into the public domain for anyone to see. It is also somewhere discussion can be raised and is constantly changing.  These characteristics are comparable to the idea of the public sphere.

Source: DMA

According to Habermas, the public sphere is ‘a realm of our social life in which something approaching public opinion can be formed. Access is guaranteed to all citizens.’ (1964, p.49). This idea is somewhat relevant to the blogosphere as it creates a public space in which public opinion can be formed. However, because access is not guaranteed to all citizens, so it does not encompass all of Habermas' ideas.

This is because of the digital divide, which Ali describes as ‘the unequal distribution of information and communication technology across nations,’ (2011, p.188). This is of particular relevance to the Internet, which many people around the world do not have access to or are unable to use as they have not been educated. Therefore, many people are unable to create their own blog site, and cannot participate in forming public opinion and being involved in public discussion.

The Digital Divide
Source: ICTP Digital Divide Simulator

However, if you leave the digital divide out of it, the other characteristics involved with blogging can be seen as a type of public sphere. It is free for anyone to use (therefore access is guaranteed to all who have access to the technology needed to participate), is an area within our social life where we can discuss any subject we want and is becoming more popular every day. 

Source: blogOH!blog

So is the blogosphere the future of the public sphere? If the gap can be closed in the digital divide, anything is possible!

References

Ali, A 2011, ‘The Power of Social Media in Developing Nations: New Tools for Closing the Global Digital Divide and Beyond’, Harvard Human Rights Journal, Vol. 24, Issue 1, pp. 185-219, retrieved 23 August 2012.

blogOH!blog 2007, ‘Exploding Blogosphere’, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://www.blogohblog.com/exploding-blogosphere/>.

Communication for Governance & Accountability Program, ‘The Public Sphere’, retrieved 23 August 2012, < http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGOVACC/Resources/PubSphereweb.pdf>.

Dictionary.com, ‘blogosphere’, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/blogosphere>.

DMA, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://classes.dma.ucla.edu/Fall08/154A/JPGs/spreads1600/blogosphere_SH%20copy.jpg>.

Habermas, J 1964, 'The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article', New German Critique, Vol. 74, Issue 3, p. 49, retrieved 23 August 2012.

ICTP Digital Divide Simulator, ‘What is the Digital Divide?’, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://wireless.ictp.trieste.it/simulator/>.

NielsenWire, ‘Buzz in the Blogosphere: Millions More Bloggers and Blog Readers’, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/buzz-in-the-blogosphere-millions-more-bloggers-and-blog-readers>.

Technorati 2011, ‘State of the Blogosphere 2011: Introduction and Method’, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://technorati.com/social-media/article/state-of-the-blogosphere-2011-introduction/>.

The Digital Divide 2010, YouTube, ACCANvideo, 1 July, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doVVEcidowU>.

The European Graduate School, ‘Jürgen Habermas – Biography’, retrieved 23 August 2012, <http://www.egs.edu/library/juergen-habermas/biography/>.

Wikipedia, ‘Internet’, retrieved 23 August 2012, < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet>.