Public Sphere and Dialogue in Social Networks (The Study of the Effect of Virtual Social Networks on Cross-cultural Dialogues)

Growing concerns regarding preserving as well as promoting the possibility of a fair and peaceful coexistence, both at national and transnational levels, has unprecedentedly increased the importance of dialogue. Accordingly, factors affecting dialogue have presumably been the subject of a number of studies. Among the given factors, the virtual social networks have great effects on all areas of the lives. This study is to investigate the effects of social networks on cross-cultural dialogues within virtual public sphere. In this framework, it is argued that although the possibility of communication and exchange of information promotes the opportunity of dialogue, it is restrictive and confounding as well. This restriction essentially arises from the uneven distribution of facilities associated with these technologies; the special status of virtual public sphere confounds the cross-cultural dialogues, as well. Indeed, virtual social networks, due to the virtual public sphere they make, can confound dialogue and cross-cultural dialogues.