The domain of mass media or information technology opens up avenues of thoughts and perspectives with all the data that is shared among people of the society. However, while the boom in technology has led to a surge in communication, it needs to be noted that there are examples of the state machinery leaving no stone unturned to regulate dissemination of information so as to channelize the thoughts and perspectives of the general mass of the society in a particular manner in accordance with the ambition of the authority of the state.
One can delve deep into the findings of the article, “How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression” that explicates the functioning of the Chinese government toward the aim of channelizing or suppressing public opinion. The government aims to regulate and scrutinize use of communication technology so that no public opinion is formed in the society that can spark off a dissent against the governance or authority. Now, one has to comprehend that the situation that is explicated in relation to China is simply a microcosm of the world society. In the age of technological boom there have been many instances of governments having surveillance on the social media use of the citizens of the country. (King et. al, 2013)
It has to be noted in this context that censorship program runs with the ambition of curtailing any type of collective action on the part of the commoners. This is executed by the process of silencing comments aimed at spurring or representing any sort of societal mobilization, in the context of China. The aim of censorship is simply oriented at preventing any type of collective activity that might happen even in future. It has to be understood in this context that the spurt in information and communication technology has brought about a new era in the world where mobilization of the people has come to be much easier than before. While in the past times communication (that is the ultimate key to formation of public opinion) was jeopardized by geographical barriers and differences of communities, today, communication via social media or other technological devices has made the entire world come in the reach of an individual. The virtual domain of existence and communication opens up avenues of reaching out to the masses via social media, communication apps or other methods.
One can take into account the fact that common people of a society work as the largest initiators of action. Their role in building public opinion is however, dependent on the role of media houses that work to disseminate the news or information to the wider audience over the society. (Nip & Fu, 2015) In the Chinese context (or any other country for that matter), it needs to be reckoned that the state has its own opinion building agenda so as to garner the support of the masses in favor of the actions carried out by the government or the authorities. But, the tremendous spurt in ICT has paved the way for the counter-propaganda or opinion-building that can very well have its roots among the common people of the society. For a country like China where the government aims to channelize the public’s perspective and helm the process of opinion building, the scope of any opposition with regard to public opinion is viewed as an impediment to the functioning of the government.
Nonetheless, it has to be admitted that ICT provides the common people with a strong voice that they did not have in the past times. People of the society are the very basic pillars constituting the nation state. As such, the common people need strong representation and scope of coming together and having clarity of perspective regarding various issues of the society and the state. The boom in information and communication technology has provided the society with this massive scope of voicing the opinion of the people and reaching out to the masses. One can consider in this context the content of the documentary film, “High Tech, Low Life.” This film engages in the portrayal of two first citizen reporters of China who chronicle the news in the society that they feel needs to be heard. (Rotten Tomatoes, 2013) The reporters learn to come to terms with the evolving censorship regulations and the threat of political persecution. One of the most intriguing aspects of the film is that it portrays with utmost clarity the immense power of mass communication in the modern day world society. (Steadman, 2012)
It has to be opined that public opinion is the key to societal change. ICT has opened avenues of information dissemination in this modern society so that people can imbibe the information about the society and the occurrences. The communication medium provides the people with much needed information that shapes their psyche and perspective about the society and the governance. Thus, there can be no debate that ICT and mass communication are important instruments of social change and building public opinion. While one can think of the example of China as a strongly regulated country, the dichotomy between state surveillance and individual freedom has become one of the burning debates of the world society in the present times. Whatever be the aim of the state machinery, public opinion and the catalytic role of information and communication technology is the way of the future that would make the society a much better place to live in for one and all. It would also work to regulate and control any improper action on the part of the governance.
References
King, Gary & Pan, Jennifer & Roberts, Margaret E. (2013). How Censorship in China
Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression. American Political Science Review: 1-18. PDF.
Nip, Joyce Y. M. & Fu, King-wa. (2015). Challenging Official Propaganda? Public
Opinion Leaders on Sina Weibo. The China Quarterly: 1-24. PDF.
High Tech, Low Life (2013). Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved from
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/high_tech_low_life/
Steadman, Ian. (2012). 'High Tech, Low Life' reveals China's growing citizen blogger
army. Wired.co.uk. Retrieved from http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-06/20/high-tech-low-life
