week 4 task 1 a

New media such as the Internet provides us with online communities such as forums, blobs etc. Therefore the Internet gives consumer the ability to dispute the power of society validating that “we all have something to contribute.”( Rokin, 2005: 165) We are able to criticise policies enforced by Gordon Brown as forums gives us access to “political and cultural debate.” (Lister et al 174) This is a good thing for consumer like Durkheim suggest we are not simply consumers to the degree that broadcast media seems to entail but actively involved an so “the internets virtual communities are empowering”(Rokin, 2005: 165).

Although these sites may in fact encourage debate about political policies, the empowerment of the government could be highly ideologically driven within society to such a degree that the Internet could not be as powerful as Durkheim suggests. But instead a medium that helps reinforce stereotypes.