ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the influence of the Internet on US life, particularly politics. The Internet has sparked extensive debate particularly about the political consequences of this new communications technology. Visions of the future have imbued the Internet with a capability to restructure relations between people on the planet and solve vexing economic, social and political problems. Although initial use centred on the workplace, where corporate or academic users utilised the Internet for business or research purposes, home use by Americans has exploded. Now people are more likely to go on-line at home than at work. According to the predictions concerning its political role, the Internet holds great promise as a medium for stimulating and expressing a public role in governance. However, the US Congress rarely acts rapidly and the same is true in its approach to new communications technology. The chapter concludes about that impact and speculate whether a similar scenario may unfold in the UK.