The power of new media networks

The implications of the new media that are associated with substantial changes in the social, political and economic power relationships embedded in social networks are discussed in this chapter. I argue that policy makers, business leaders and citizens must become more aware of the many different ways that relationships mediated by the new media may be altered, not always for the better. The chapter examines why should we be concerned about the new media and the power of the networks of relationships that they sustain, whether there a case for a change in new media policy to ensure that citizens have the right to acquire certain kinds of capabilities, and whether there are grounds for optimism that the emphasis of policy will shift to give greater emphasis to citizen concerns.