Barriers to Participation

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Media convergence may open up access to social, political, and cultural participation but only for those people who are willing and able to take advantage of these technologies. Although Internet use is widespread, much exposure is still confined to traditional mass media, especially television (Stelter, 2011). There are also several groups whose access to computers or high-speed Internet is limited or who are reluctant to use technology. And even among those who actively use converging media, effective participation may be limited by the ways they use media.

Digital Divide. Back in 1995, a mere 3 percent of Americans had used the Internet; by 2012, almost 80 percent had. Compared to any other technology of the last century, that is quite a rapid penetration into the population. Although the numbers of Internet users continue to grow across all demographic groups, there is still a digital divide between the haves and have-nots in terms of regular access, especially to broadband connections. This gap is primarily tied to income levels: in households with incomes above $30,000, Internet use ranges from 84 to 95 percent; it is used by only 63 percent of households earning less than $30,000 (Pew Research Center, 2010). As the cost of technology continues to decline, the income divide will most likely continue to close, and lower-income groups will gain opportunities for participation (Hanson, Thackeray, Barnes, Neiger, & McIntyre, 2008). Beyond the income barrier, a difficulty for some reluctant users is a lack of confidence when it comes to using technology, though increasingly user-friendly and affordable Web connections and applications can continue to increase self-efficacy.

Ineffective Participation. When Amy’s twin girls were born almost three months prematurely, her husband Vern got online right away to find out everything he could about “preemies.” But his search quickly became overwhelming: for every opinion in one direction, there seemed to be someone else giving the opposite advice. The sheer volume of messages made available by converging media can lead to information overload, the difficulty in sorting through and making sense of vast amounts of information. Pavlik and McIntosh (2011) argue that, apart from the difficulty for individuals, information overload can also hinder the ability of government agencies to act on shared information and make it difficult for employees to share information effectively within their companies. Media multitasking can exacerbate the problem, as we may not be able to focus on the information we most need if we are texting or e-mailing during meetings or presentations.

It can also be difficult to evaluate the quality of information in converging media. Some information online is edited by professional journalists, some is user contributed and edited (such as on Wikipedia), and some is unedited information posted on forums, blogs, or personal Web sites. Rumors, hoaxes, and conspiracy theories abound (cataloged and investigated at Snopes.com). The potential for effective citizen participation is limited when users create or distribute false or other dangerous kinds of information online.

Participation is also ineffective when users fail to think critically about the information they find on the Internet. Much as with the traditional media, a site that looks credible, with professional design and impressive depth of content, may be given higher credence even if it might otherwise be suspect given its origins or sponsorship. To make good on the promises of digital media for social and political participation, we need to devote our attention to the quality of our own and others’ mediated communication.