Title: Digital Citizenship: The Good, The Bad, & The Role of the Internet – UAB Institute for Human Rights Blog
Headings: Digital Citizenship: The Good, The Bad, & The Role of the Internet
Digital Citizenship: The Good, The Bad, & The Role of the Internet
The Good
The Bad
Digital Citizenship and Human Rights

Content: The media’s role in elections and politics has grown exponentially since the 1960s. Prior to television, presidential candidates relied on the radio, think of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats, and other interpersonal means to communicate with voters: caucuses, party conventions, town halls, and so on. As technology progressed and television became widely accessible, reliance on interpersonal connections diminished and reliance upon the media grew. Power transitioned from party leaders and bosses to the candidates – as they were able to take control of their campaign, so long as their actions were worthy enough to make headlines. This transfer of power once benefitted only the candidates; however, now the power resides with the media: for they decide what suits their audiences, and who America sees. This transfer of power greatly impacts our political processes. When politicians are their own bosses, they are able to disregard societal “norms” and use populist rhetoric to enhance their performance in the political realm.