Original Article (UK Canvas)

 

Further discussion upon previous points raised here resulted in a slightly more concrete debate of social media and political sphere. One aspect is the delivery system, and thus raises my first query:

Q1 – What are the political effects of connection delivery initials such as Connect Kentucky.

Just like the physical Superhighway system that preceded it, the internet was born from a military initiative. And like the Super Highway system the internet was quickly appropriated by civilian interests, bringing information, commerce, and connections at speeds never conceived.

Unfortunately, parallels continue to the detrimental aspects. The super highway system is often blamed for the disruption and ultimately destruction of areas is bypassed or in the case of larger urban areas, dissected. Without access, the disenfranchised fell yet further behind. So far the internet has proven no different. The poor and uneducated are now being left behind on the virtual highway.

Connect Kentucky and similar initiatives hope to ameliorate the connection disparity by bringing WIFI services to every municipality. Leaving out the logistical obstacles, my immediate would be the potential political ramifications. Someone has to pay for all that hardware, maintenance, and access. Paying is power, and power is control. When public access becomes not a convenience, but a dependence, the dangers of single entity control are very real.

Q2 – What are the drawbacks to a fully connected political sphere?

Quick query? When was the last time you recall any grass-roots movement affecting practical change? I’ve oft heard crowing from social media pundits of the power it gives groups to conduct movements and change the political landscape in ways not possible. However, the last time I checked, there was no such thing as Facebook during the movements for Anti Slavery, Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage, or any other initiative that actually managed a permanent change in our political sphere.

Indeed, an argument could be made that instant access to group communication, and the ability to “join” a movement by pressing Like or posting a random meme has in fact weakened influence of grass-roots initiatives. To put it bluntly, it takes no effort to make one’s self feel involved without actually doing anything. Outrage comes, goes, and the powerful ignore them until they go away, knowing full well a new flash in the pan distraction will appear tomorrow.