SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC SPHERE IN CONTEMPORARY DEMOCRACY

This qualitative study examines how social media platforms are transforming the public sphere in contemporary democratic contexts. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Jurgen Habermas, the research explores how digital platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook reshape deliberation, participation, and the circulation of political information. The study employs a qualitative methodology combining thematic analysis of online political discussions with in-depth interviews of active social media users. Findings suggest that social media expands access to political discourse and enables new forms of participatory engagement, particularly among youth and marginalised groups. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, including the fragmentation of audiences into echo chambers, the spread of misinformation, and the influence of algorithmic curation on visibility and opinion formation. These dynamics complicate the normative ideals of rational-critical debate central to the traditional public sphere. The paper argues that while social media reconfigures democratic participation by broadening inclusivity and immediacy, it also introduces structural limitations that may undermine the quality of deliberation. The study contributes to ongoing debates on digital democracy by offering a nuanced understanding of the evolving relationship between social media and the public sphere.