As technologies increasingly dictate how we communicate with each other, transmit information and interact with multimedia content, individuals lacking access to technology will be left behind. This trend ultimately polarizes the "digital haves" and the "digital have-nots."
Exploring digital divides in the context of online political activists exploits the societal dangers associated with this problematic consequence of technological innovation. The digital haves, or more simply internet users, can easily inform themselves on important subjects and arguments related to the economy, society and politics. More specifically, the online political activists I observed over the course of this semester are internet users who not only use the web as an information resource, but also participate in discussion forums, multimedia storytelling and citizen journalism. While these people have access to technology and are not faced with the same challenges of digital have-nots, they often operate in echo chambers.
Overall, online political activists reinforce their preexisting beliefs by interacting solely with likeminded individuals, in communities that align with their ideologies. This notion of echo chambers and reinforcing political beliefs was a reoccurring theme I observed throughout the project. Once I began researching Refocus Wisconsin, however, some positive observations contradicted this original analysis.
Refocus Wisconsin differs from the other activists I observed because it is mostly made up of policy experts, academics, business leaders and government officials. While the mission, content and community engagement is activist-like by nature, Refocus Wisconsin promotes intellectual diversity, objective debate and bipartisan problem-solving. Those who participate in the activism and those who follow the initiative have opportunities to expand their world views and challenge their existing beliefs.
As previously mentioned, online political activists and internet users traditionally consume political information that keeps them in their comfort zone. Refocus Wisconsin combats this by providing that same political information through a bipartisan lens, ultimately offering other activists an opportunity to make entirely objective decisions.
Indeed, this type of online involvement is encouraging. The political environments governing Wisconsin - and the nation - are emotional and polarized. As aggression and emotions continue stifling progress, more and more citizens will see the importance of bipartisan debate. More and more citizens will hopefully move outside of their comfort zone into arenas that might help them approach political differences in a "refocused" way.
Promoting intellectual diversity online is important, but this trend of political activism could further exploit the digital divide, leaving digital have-nots uninformed and further behind in future political thought.
In order for democracy to operate as it is intended to do, the gap between internet users and non-internet users must be narrowed. Those left behind risk falling victim to the same echo chambers we currently live in as the rest of society progresses toward a more objective, bipartisan approach to government. In fact - and I'm not trying to be dramatic - this could not only widen the information gap, but could also create a real-world disconnect between classes.
Looking back on my observational experiences with online political activists and their communities, it's obvious how important the internet really is in terms of community building, identity formation, the digital divide, bipartisan politics, participatory culture, norms of communication, etc, etc. My ethnographic research offered a unique opportunity to broaden my thinking and diversify my experiences in a way that I don't think I would've considered on my own. Practicum paper, here I come.
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