Social Networking Services in Service of Democracy – Chosen Case Studies

The author undertook to define the role of the social networking services and their meaning for democracy, especially in those countries lacking democracy. At the beginning of this analysis the following questions were formulated: To what extent are the social networking media able to change and/or create democracy? What possibilities for the citizens do they offer? What characterizes a community created by the social networking services? How permanent and valuable is it in the context of the quest for democracy and its strengthening? Answering these questions shall allow for making conclusions precious particularly for those who would like to make use of social networking services in order to promote democratic values.