Since the emergence of the World Wide Web, we have witnessed the vast potential for computerized media networks to accommodate various forms of communication. The internet, as an exceptionally malleable and decentralized multimedia environment, provides ample space for diverse political voices to be heard and for numerous political entities, including parties, interest groups, and personal followings, to coexist.
It is evident that contemporary politics will be replicated online, and the pandemonium that comes with it. However, the history of technology suggests that a general pattern of online behavior will emerge over the next few years, which will set a pace, tone, and context for politics. As a result, corporations and governments will consolidate their online presence, and production standards, consumer tastes, and habits will be established. Moreover, myths will spread about successful election winners or advocacy groups that achieved their goals through online prowess.
The question that arises is to what extent the “norm” that emerges from this formative period will align with the values associated with democratic communication at its finest. These values include freedom of expression, universal access, government accountability, social tolerance, and public deliberation.