Alternative public spheres

Communication is changing. The differentiation of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc., has triggered a structural transformation. New spaces for action are emerging, enabling alternative public spheres and novel forms of participation. These changes affect both political communication and various forms of private and commercial initiatives for sharing information, such as scientific information, mourning, shaming, disparagement, or advisory communication. The volume addresses current questions and advances the ongoing media linguistic as well as social and cultural scientific discussions on both theoretical and empirical levels.