The Dark Side of Online Participation: Exploring Non-, Passive and Negative Participation
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Accepted version
Date
2017Metadata
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- Publikasjoner fra CRIStin - BI [1089]
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Original version
Information, Communication and Society. 2017, 20 (6), 876-897. 10.1080/1369118X.2017.1293129Abstract
Studies on the “second-level digital divide” explore the socio-economic antecedents and effects of (a lack of) user participation on the Internet. At the same time, some have criticized a normatively affirmative bias in online participation research as well as a one-sided focus on observable user activity. This contribution addresses the ensuing call for a more nuanced understanding of online participation in general, and online political participation in particular. We differentiate the online participation concept based on a focus group study among 96 Internet users from a broad range of social backgrounds in Germany. We derive a framework of eight types of online (non-)participation along three conceptual axes: activity, agency and social valence. Taking user experiences and terminology into account, we differentiate participation from non-participation, active from passive and positive from negative (non-)participation. The proposed typology allows for a more balanced evaluation and more focused exploration of phenomena such as destructive or involuntary online participation as well as online abstention, boycotts, self-censorship, lurking or digital exclusion.