ON-LINE POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS AND POLITICIZATION OF SOCIAL NETWORKS
ON-LINE POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS AND POLITICIZATION OF SOCIAL NETWORKS

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to analyse the role of new information and com¬munication technologies in the politicization of existing off-line social networks, i. e. to discuss whether and how these technologies generate access to political conversation for those who do not experience such conversations offline and whether such access creates new experiences of political discussion. To answer this question, data of a representative survey, conducted in 2008 and of in-depth interviews conducted in summer 2005 are analysed. The data show that not only those who talk politics offline but also those who do not engage in virtual political discussions are motivated by the propensity of such discussions to provide access to different opinions, although even online discussions are the place to share opinions, but not to contest and justify them.

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