Jürgen Habermas and the Internet as Public Sphere Environment

Abstract

The research that led to this article focused on observing Habermas's contributions to understanding of the public sphere, aiming to evaluate the applicability of the public sphere concept developed by the author in the context of the Internet. Initially examining the original proposal of Habermas's public sphere and, subsequently, analyzing the conceptual transformation of his theory, given the premise of the Internet as a public medium that enables the expression of opinions and communication on a global scale. Starting from a Habermasian perspective, the possibilities and risks posed by this digital network structure were examined. Given the extensive capillarity of digital telecommunications structures, despite the still remaining access barriers, the ease of use, the possibility of self-publishing, and the widespread reach raised the central question of the research: does the Internet represent a potentially "democratic" medium, that is, a virtual public sphere in which public discourses, based on freedom of expression, strengthen citizen enrolment? The initial hypothesis was based on the suspicion that, nowadays, although the global computer network presents structural conditions favorable to freedom of expression, it creates an environment where discourses are fragmented, compromising the genuine exercise of public debate and, consequently, democracy itself. The study was conducted using a hermeneutic-dialectical approach, comparing Habermas's most recent contribution to the public sphere with his previous proposal. As a result of the research, it was found that Habermas proposes the expansion of opportunities for civic interaction on the Internet, the repression of hate speech and the spread of fake news, as well as the increase of alternatives to social platforms operated by private companies.