Interactivity as ideological dilemma. A socially−situated reading of interactivity discourse in three civic sites in the Italian context

In debates about the potential role of the Internet in promoting civic engagement, interactivity is often seen to be synonymous with democratic participation and collaborative learning. The present article assesses whether online interaction is seen as something desirable in lived experience by analyzing the formation of interactivity discourse as an ideological dilemma. The article illustrates how the young Italian producers of three civic websites use and make sense of interactive applications in the context of their experiences and aims. In interviews with these producers, interactivity emerged as a problematic issue to deal with rather than a key feature of the medium in involving citizens in civic action and debate. The combination of the interactive nature of the Internet, the unequal power relations characterizing the online domain, and a potential openness to adversarial views can lead to the paradox of a further restriction of (online) participation by those who intend to promote it. Consequently, online interaction, even when accompanied with democratic aims, does not necessarily promote civic participation and collaborative learning. The article concludes by arguing that interactivity can become a learning opportunity when its use or nonuse is accompanied by critical reflection on our own social practices in the (online) public sphere.