The Effect of Kuwaiti Online Readers’ Comments on Sectarian and Tribal Issues: A Case Study of the Online Newspaper Alaan

One of the benefits of online journalism has been the enhancement of freedom of expression among the Arab online population [1,2]. Many Arab countries have a long and rich history of practicing censorship of traditional mass media [3]. However, the technological developments of the 1990s helped to establish new media that have begun to change the landscape of the relationship between the government and the media, especially in cyberspace. Although most Arab governments have attempted to impose local rules and regulations as a means to control the Internet [4], their attempts to directly suppress the freedom of expression have not been successful. As a result, online journalism has become a public sphere where ideas, thoughts and feelings can be expressed freely. This trend toward freedom can be seen in online readers’ comments on articles, news, opinion pieces and columns published online.