Terms of dialogue in the data society

What happens to dialogue when technology determines pace, content and who we listen to?

Already in the 80s, sociologist Stein Bråten wrote about this in Terms of dialogue in the data society. Now, in an age of artificial intelligence and algorithms, the book appears startlingly topical — and deeply needed.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how technology shapes the way we talk to each other. It prompted me to bring up a book I read in the late 80s, when I was studying organizational development: Terms of dialogue in the data society by the sociologist Stein Bråten. Back then, it made an impression — now, in the face of artificial intelligence and algorithm-driven communication, it appears almost prophetic.

The double face of technology

Bråten wrote about something we notice every day: technology opens doors to new forms of communication, but it can also close the space for real conversations. We get access to more voices and more information, but at the same time we end up in bubbles, the pace quickens, and the dialogue often loses depth and nuance.

He asks questions that hit:

- What happens when machines influence what we see, who we talk to — and how we talk?

- What do we lose when conversations go from being face-to-face to short, algorithm-driven exchanges?

Model Power and the Narrow Conversation Room

Bråten introduced the term model power The power of those who design the digital systems through which we communicate. When one model of reality dominates, the dialogue's space of possibility narrows in. He warned against model monopolies and pointed to how technology can both inhibit and promote intersubjectivity The ability to understand and integrate ourselves into the perspectives of others.

Its relevance today is striking. When conversations take place on platforms that premiere the most provocative, and where disinformation spreads rapidly, democracy is challenged. But Bråten also offers hope: Technology can contribute to more participation and diversity — if we use it wisely and consciously.

Closing

To me, one thing is clear: We need to talk more about how we talk together. How we can preserve the human in the face of the digital. This book doesn't provide all the answers, but it does ask questions we can't afford to overlook. Brutten reminds us that real dialogue requires more than information - it requires insight, presence, and the ability to see the world from the point of view of others. As technology takes a greater place in our communications, we must actively fight for the human in conversation. It starts with asking the right questions - and listening with open minds.