There’s a place for everyone on the web
The internet is the ultimate level playing field. It is now possible for anybody with internet access to create a website and promote it for no money and minimal effort. An enormous amount of content has been created by people sitting in their room and yet is seen by millions of people around the world. This means however unpopular and outlandish your viewpoint, the internet gives you the best opportunity to get it seen on a wide scale.
Everyone gets the opportunity to be heard on the Internet. Whilst unpopular opinions are often ignored or brushed away, everyone has an equal opportunity to convince others of their point of view. Whether it is in the comments section of a news article or on facebook, when you post your thoughts it will be given an equal standing, no matter the content of what you are saying.
Although it is true that majority viewpoints take the main stage, as they do in real life, it isn’t hard to find opposing opinions within discussions. It would be impossible for the internet to eliminate the natural promotion of the majority opinion within groups, but it does give minority viewpoints a much greater weight then they would in real life, where all widespread media limits minority opinion before the masses even get to hear their side of the argument.
It is also much easier to find people who share your views and talk with them. In the real world there may be limits, social or practical, stopping people with minority viewpoints from really being able to meet and discuss their opinions. The internet changes this for the better.
To say the internet stifles minority opinion is to put too much of the blame on the internet and too little on people themselves. There is nothing in the internet’s structure that means a point has to be popular to be seen, it is just people being stubborn and refusing to consider other views that means they are left on the outskirts of discussions.
All in all, the internet gives a voice to people who would never have the chance in the real world. The majority is always adept at stifling views they dislike, but on the internet it is possible for people holding these views to thrive amongst themselves and participate in debate to a much greater extent than ever seen before.
Everyone gets the opportunity to be heard on the Internet. Whilst unpopular opinions are often ignored or brushed away, everyone has an equal opportunity to convince others of their point of view. Whether it is in the comments section of a news article or on facebook, when you post your thoughts it will be given an equal standing, no matter the content of what you are saying.
Although it is true that majority viewpoints take the main stage, as they do in real life, it isn’t hard to find opposing opinions within discussions. It would be impossible for the internet to eliminate the natural promotion of the majority opinion within groups, but it does give minority viewpoints a much greater weight then they would in real life, where all widespread media limits minority opinion before the masses even get to hear their side of the argument.
It is also much easier to find people who share your views and talk with them. In the real world there may be limits, social or practical, stopping people with minority viewpoints from really being able to meet and discuss their opinions. The internet changes this for the better.
To say the internet stifles minority opinion is to put too much of the blame on the internet and too little on people themselves. There is nothing in the internet’s structure that means a point has to be popular to be seen, it is just people being stubborn and refusing to consider other views that means they are left on the outskirts of discussions.
All in all, the internet gives a voice to people who would never have the chance in the real world. The majority is always adept at stifling views they dislike, but on the internet it is possible for people holding these views to thrive amongst themselves and participate in debate to a much greater extent than ever seen before.