Introduction : mediated participation in a digital age

Abstract

The role of the Internet, digital communications and mobile technologies have changed our understanding of the world, politics, religion, culture, science and many other spheres of societal life. Today’s world, once defined as a mediapolis (Silverstone, 2007), is a mediated public space where media reinforce and reshape everyday life experiences. However, the main changes penetrating different layers and structures of society are not technological or institutional per se, but rather cultural and social, embodied in individual practices and interactions (Castells, 2009). Therefore, while addressing the changes in relationship to the public and politics, not only technological, institutional, structural, but also social and cultural implications have to be considered.[...]