Journalism, Online Comments, and the Future of Public Discourse

listening and reflection and the foundation of deliberation—

Robert D. Putnam.

John Suler

“They don’t know who is speaking so they can’t trust it; they can’t tell if it is real or made up; they can’t tell if the source has an agenda or is even knowledgeable.”

determining what digital speech is “expressive” versus digital speech that is “influential.”

Computer-mediated communication is eclipsing the conventional forms of public debate in the United States.

90% of the users are “lurkers” who never contribute.

one-way conversations where the goal is to filibuster and not to listen.

Rampant incivility, participation inequality, polarization, propaganda, distortion and distrust