---
title: "Are opportunities for online engagement bringing new voices into the civic debate?"
description: "Aaron Smith discusses the role the Internet plays in opening civic and political debate to historically underrepresented groups."
date: "2009-10-15"
authors:
  - name: "Aaron Smith"
    job_title: "Director, Data Labs"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/aaron-smith/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2009/10/15/are-opportunities-for-online-engagement-bringing-new-voices-into-the-civic-debate/"
categories:
  - "Civic Activities Online"
  - "Politics & Media"
  - "Politics & Policy"
  - "Politics Online"
  - "Social Media"
tags:
  - "Communities"
  - "Government"
  - "politics"
---

# Are opportunities for online engagement bringing new voices into the civic debate?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P82g4KE1IAk?rel=0

Aaron Smith discusses the role the Internet plays in opening civic and political debate to historically underrepresented groups.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i408AIyQB08?rel=0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJE1t7C_lHU?rel=0