The Net beyond its limits?

I often read some writings by Habermas and other authors about the limits of the Internet, notwithstanding its potential e.g. under authoritarian regimes.

I think that, when used for aims different from mere individualism/consumerism, and when fed by some real values guiding political initiatives, Internet can display great opportunities. Social networks could theoretically satisfy just materialistic needs, but, when a different attitude is adopted, they can serve the cause of democracy. What we have seen in the case of Tunisia and Egypt in the last months is clearly significant. But two days ago, also in Italy, which is formally a democratic country, we have maybe begun to fully perceive the effects of new media able to compete with TV and overcome it.

Even though it may sound paradoxical, the Italian individualism portrayed by Guicciardini centuries ago, which explains the huge diffusion of mobile phones (and cars in Italian streets), could also favour a more direct participation of citizens to a debate previously monopolized by public TV, making its content clearer and capable of aggregating consensus.

We just have to see what's going on.