The notion that new media propels democracy as discussed in ‘The Political Power of Social Media’ by Clay Shriky (2011) is definitely a statement I agree with. New medias such as the internet more specifically social -networking sites have given people a platform to express themselves and practice the all important democratic right of 'Freedom of speech’ and of 'Freedom of ideas'. As outlined in Jai‘s blog ‘New Media Native’ (2011), governments are losing power as people are using new media to bring about change. As Shriky (2011) points out the United States of America have promoted internet freedom however, many have speculated the U.S.A are responsible for attempting to bring down WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in order to stop the website from releasing more classified documents over the internet (Clayton 2010). Is it unethical for a democratic government to not share all information with its people?
Egyptian Protester 2011
You cannot deny that new media is making the barrier between the people and the government more transparent than ever. Personally, I think this a great thing because all too often people forget that a democratic government is suppose to serve the people; as put by Abraham Lincoln ‘of the people, by the people and for the people (America.gov 2008).
Reference list
- Clayton, Darnell. ‘Us government going after WikiLeaks.’ Last modified Novemeber 30th 2010. http://www.blogherald.com/2010/11/30/us-government-going-after-wikileaks/
- Shriky. C. 2011. “The Political Power of Social Media: Technology; the public sphere and political change” Foreign Affairs, Vol 90 Issue 1: p.28-41
-What is democracy? Last modified on 3rd of May 2008.http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2008/May/20080619223145eaifas0.5311657.html
- Morton, Jai. ‘Power to the People’ Last modified March 26th 2011. http://jailouisemedia.blogspot.com/
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