The Open Society and Its Enemies within US: Causes of Close-mindedness among Digitalized, Networked Publics and their Social Consequences

The author identifies new social problems related to problematic public behaviors in a digitalized, networked society. These are flaming, pubic unrest in CMC, and conspiratorial thinking. Digital communication environment can foster our “closed-mindedness,” regardless of whether we are right or wrong, almost always develops publics and counterpublics, results in antagonistic cultures, extreme groups and group polarization, increase social conflicts and impose social costs to resolve problems and issues. Using the situational theory of problem solving, the author shows theoretical models to understand how those new problems arise, specifically, how the stronger conviction or closed-mindedness is developed and linked with situational perception, motivation, referent criterion, and communicative actions.