Conclusion: The Candle Burns Bright

In the conclusion, Dennis challenges slacktivism as a judgement on contemporary political action. The chapter begins by firstly outlining the main findings, illustrating how Facebook and Twitter create new opportunities for cognitive engagement, discursive participation, and political mobilisation. These results are then compared to those from macro-level projects, contextualising the book’s contributions within broader national and international trends. Thirdly, in the context of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Dennis outlines a research agenda for future critical research that explores the everyday experiences of digital politics at the individual level. Finally, Dennis revisits the utopian-dystopian divide at the heart of this field, reflecting on how this dispute stems from fundamental differences in how participation is conceptualised.

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