Introduction The public sphere is a domain of social life where opinions can be formed and expressed. It is characterised as being open to all, where no force of intimidation occurs (Habermas 1991). The force of argument is the principal driver of deliberation in these spheres. This Habermasian idea of a public sphere has now become an ever-present part of our modern political democracies. However, in today's age of social media and the new-age internet, these public sphere