Myths and Realities 19 Social Media: new democracy or mass deception?

With the rise of citizen journalism through blogging and Twitter we are often told that communication is more democratic than ever before; but has social media really disrupted the status quo in terms of power and influence? Is social media an instrument of modern capitalism and the political elite, or a tool for changing the distribution of power? What do we know about who has access to social media and how different groups are able to use it to bring about change? What new structures of influence have been formed and which old ones remain?

Join  Professor Helen Margetts, Director of Oxford Internet Institute and Professor of Society and the Internet, University of Oxford and Professor David Gauntlett, Professor of Media and Communications, University of Westminster to explore the different forms of evidence around access and use of social media to debate these issues. The evening will be chaired by Dr Ruth Fox, Director and Head of Research, Hansard Society

In partnership with Academy of Social Sciences and The Economic and Social Research Council