Social Media and Democracy

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Personal and collective choice is fundamental to a democratic society. We are fortunate to be living in a democracy where we can choose our government leaders, select which books to read, which movies to watch, how and whom to associate with etc. As we approach the 4th of July holiday, we are reminded of the significance of this day. This occasion is a great opportunity to renew our dedication to the principles of liberty and equality.

One of our fundamental beliefs at ZeroDivide is the idea that enhancing civic engagement can lead to healthier and more vibrant communities. The tools of the digital age have led to an increase in the production and distribution of content. Through the use of social media, it is much easier to spread messages, far and wide, than it was a decade ago. This in turn creates the ability to produce a community with the potential for collective action. Social media tools place power in the hands of the people. Our government's adoption of social media is creating new opportunities to solve problems, disseminate information, and engage the public.

"To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative."

-President Obama, April 25, 2009

The President launched Recovery.gov, an unprecedented step to provide transparency and accountability through technology. He launched The Recovery Act which calls for a comprehensive plan for national broadband, and the FCC is developing a plan due in February, 2010. The Recovery Act also provides for $7.2 billion for broadband internet access nationwide, including grants for rural broadband access, expanding computer center capacity, and sustainable broadband adoption initiatives. The President believes that modernized infrastructure is a necessary part of the foundation for long term economic stability and prosperity. That includes everything from a comprehensive national broadband plan, to new health care information technology, to a modernized electrical grid.

Over the last 10 years, ZeroDivide has supported and invested in technology adoption in underserved communities.  We submitted comments to the FCC and comments to NTIA to illustrate the need to support community institutions in providing broadband access, creating broadband demand, and creating economic, educational and civic engagement opportunities through broadband. 

Much has been written about President Obama's masterful use of social media in his election campaign.  His embrace of a social media strategy in communicating with the people shows his understanding and effectively employing social media as a way of engaging and motivating voters. His use of social media appears to be a way of truly creating a participatory democracy.

The advantages of new media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to spread their messages took center stage recently as election results unfolded in the Middle East. The social media platforms provided unfiltered views and opinions for local voters to share with the rest of the world. The events captured the world's attention as the protest movement grew and the opposition organized in ways which did not exist prior to the availability of these social media tools. Read Beth Sachnoff and Jessica Eting's blog on this topic. The role of social media in the Iranian election demonstrates the importance of social movements in a democracy.

“Democracy is like the experience of life itself—always changing, infinite in its variety, sometimes turbulent and all the more valuable for having been tested for adversity.”

- President Carter, 1978