Reinforcing ideology

GetUp! was one of the first organisations in Australia to use Web 2.0 technologies to start a political movement. According to their website, GetUp is an independent, grass-roots community advocacy organisation giving everyday Australians opportunities to get involved and hold politicians accountable on important issues. However, they seem to be very selective as to which important issues they hold politicians accountable to.

In the 2007 federal election, they were only really visible in Bennelong, campaigning against the former Prime Minister, John Howard. You only have to read their post election report to see their true motivation. Their members, like most online communities, tend to be of the same persuasion.

I must admit that I am guilty of gravitating to sites that mirror my beliefs. It is easy to avoid views you do not agree with. With the anonymous nature of the internet, it is also easy to post comments that you would not normally say to a person face to face.

A common tactic of cult groups to ensure total reliance on them is to cut off all communication to the outside world except for the channels they provide. The danger of Web 2.0 technologies is that we do this to ourselves.