The Role of Social Media as a Public Sphere in the Algerian Protests: An Analytical Study

Benrazek Y.

Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, cilt.51, sa.2, ss.153-173, 2022 (Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 51 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/17475759.2021.1955223
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Intercultural Communication Research
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, ComAbstracts, Communication & Mass Media Index, Communication Abstracts, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.153-173
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Algeria, protests, public sphere, Social media
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

© 2021 World Communication Association.This paper examines the role of social media as a public sphere during the Algerian protests. A survey method was used on a randomly selected sample of social media users in Algeria. Findings showed that social media outlets were an alternative to traditional media, civil societies and opposition political parties. Furthermore, social media played an effective role in pulling people out of the spiral of silence and got them into the spiral of expression by a new perspective of explaining the mechanisms of social media influence in forming public opinion in exceptional circumstances when fear of isolation and conformity were no longer factors. Results also showed that social media expanded political participation and promoted democracy and freedom of expression in Algeria.