Book contents
- Understanding the Language of Virtual Interaction
- Understanding the Language of Virtual Interaction
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Web 2, a Digital Revolution?
- 3 Digital Communication and the “Post-Truth” Era
- 4 The Formation of Virtual Communities
- 5 The Negotiation of Meaning, Knowledge, and Authority Online
- 6 (De)Legitimization of Authority in Digital Communication
- 7 Competition with Official Institutions
- 8 Politics and Participation in the Digital Public Sphere
- 9 Human Rights and Social Change in Virtual Spaces
- 10 Discourse and Identity in a Lawless Digital Universe
- 11 Conclusion
- References
- Index
2 - Web 2, a Digital Revolution?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2025
Book contents
- Understanding the Language of Virtual Interaction
- Understanding the Language of Virtual Interaction
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Web 2, a Digital Revolution?
- 3 Digital Communication and the “Post-Truth” Era
- 4 The Formation of Virtual Communities
- 5 The Negotiation of Meaning, Knowledge, and Authority Online
- 6 (De)Legitimization of Authority in Digital Communication
- 7 Competition with Official Institutions
- 8 Politics and Participation in the Digital Public Sphere
- 9 Human Rights and Social Change in Virtual Spaces
- 10 Discourse and Identity in a Lawless Digital Universe
- 11 Conclusion
- References
- Index
Summary
This chapter provides an overview of digital communication’s transformative impact on human interaction. It begins with Web 2.0, enabling users to upload and engage with content, fostering a participatory culture that creates and shapes knowledge and authority. This phenomenon has significantly changed how we communicate, interact, and seek information. For instance, people often turn to Google for answers to various queries, from recipes to medical conditions. Researchers studying digital health social networks (DHSNs) agree that the Internet has transformed the experience of illness. Web 2.0 has introduced new sources of expertise, where user-generated content challenges traditional, static, and institutional expertise. These new sources often shape our initial and sometimes sole impression of issues, influencing our perception of reality and engagement with knowledge. In this digital landscape, participants compete for attention, legitimacy, and influence with peers and institutional entities.
Additionally, online platforms have provided minority groups with representation, visibility, and public debate opportunities, promoting awareness and inclusion. This digital revolution has undoubtedly reshaped fundamental aspects of human communication and the nature of information sources.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Understanding the Language of Virtual InteractionCommunities, Knowledge, and Authority, pp. 9 - 26Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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