Bloggers/Blog Commenters Have "Disproportionately Large Effect" On Public Opinion

For example, if it were not for people typing messages on the Internet, public opinion never might have reached the conclusion that the Star Wars prequels were "way ghey" but that Darth Maul's two-bladed lightsaber was "the ROXXOR."

Note the article uses the term "blogger" more loosely to include anyone expressing his opinion on-line. Or, as actual bloggers call them, "civilians."

Bloggers and internet pundits are exerting a "disproportionately large influence" on society, according to a report by a technology research company. Its study suggests that although "active" web users make up only a small proportion of Europe's online population, they are increasingly dominating public conversations and creating business trends.

More than half of the internet users on the continent are passive and do not contribute to the web at all, while a further 23% only respond when prompted. But the remainder who do engage with the net - through messageboards, websites and blogs - are helping change the national conversation, say researchers.

"We're seeing this growing," said Julian Smith, an online advertising analyst with Jupiter Research and author of the report. "The strongest part of their influence is on the media: if something online suddenly becomes a story in the local press, then it matters."

I'm not sure whether to feel flattered or frightened.

You morons are setting the debate? Lord help us.

posted by Ace at 01:31 PM

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