Mechanisms of an Online Public Sphere: The Website Slashdot

Abstract

Both the theory of the public sphere and the utopian rhetoric surrounding the Internet have been a focus of scholars for some time. Given the ability of people to connect with others around the globe through the Internet, could the Internet give rise to online public spheres? If so, how would such spaces work? This article proposes that public spheres do exist on the Internet, and details how one functions. The case under study is the website Slashdot (http://slashdot.org), an online community of computer enthusiasts. The article studies the mechanisms, both normative and in code, that are vital to Slashdot's functioning, and shows how they help Slashdot function as a public sphere.

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