Political Internet Space: Potential Opportunities and Real Challenges

Abstract

The topic of the influence of Internet technologies on the political and social communicative space remains one of the leading research topics of domestic and foreign scientists. It should be emphasized that the available publications are usually devoted to a separate aspect of such influence or the features of the use of social media in the political process. The purpose of the article is to systematize and deepen the existing scientific knowledge regarding the potential opportunities and real challenges of the political Internet space. Among the opportunities, the following are highlighted: first of all, the democratization of the process of interaction between citizens and representatives of the political establishment; individual awareness of users, their free access to any political information at any time; the possibility of holding online elections, etc. The key characteristics of the political Internet space are systematized, which also demonstrate its advantages, namely: coverage of different levels (from local to global); different nature (from mass to interpersonal), as well as interactivity, anonymity, speed, absence of borders and boundaries, etc. It is emphasized that the modern Internet space also carries certain risks, in particular, manipulation, disinformation, narratives, informational insertions, cyberattacks, information overload, ignoring generally accepted norms of communication, etc. Therefore, communication in the Internet space, including political, requires both self-control (critical thinking) from the users themselves and control from the state. The lack of a clear definition of key terms is noted. It is proposed to consider Internet communication simultaneously as part of the general communicative space and as part of the virtual space. Accordingly, the political Internet space is part of the Internet space, which, in turn, is a component of the social communicative space. At the same time, the political Internet space is not limited to social media, but covers a wider field of communication.