This episode of Outrage Science Bites explores the complex relationship between the Internet and democracy. The Internet, often hailed as a democratizing force, has also led to unintended consequences. C. Edwin Baker, a First Amendment scholar, cautioned that the Internet's underlying power structures remain concentrated in the hands of a few, limiting its democratizing potential. The episode also highlights the issue of atomization, where individual voices struggle to be heard amidst the vast amount of information online. Drawing parallels to the telegraph's impact on communication, the episode emphasizes how new technologies can amplify division and conflict. Additionally, the episode discusses the "missed handoff" to social media, where the journalistic role of providing accurate and reliable information has been compromised in favor of engagement-driven content. The lack of infrastructure and institutional support for meaningful public discourse further hinders the Internet's democratizing potential. The episode concludes by emphasizing the need for affirmative policies to address industrial concentration and promote diverse voices in the digital public sphere.
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