The Web 2.0 Community

I cannot believe it is already week five! This week's lecture for New Communication Technologies, focused mainly on the growth of community media. Media is described as being all forms of technology that are used in 'social' and or cultural communication. The lecture emphasised the fact that the Internet is becoming more and more of a social network or community in itself. Where all people, from different walks of life have the chance to have their say. Because of the Internet, groups of people can easily link together within a social network, a luxury they would not have had thirty years or so ago. Thanks to the aspects such as 'Web 2.0', a great percentage of what is on the Internet is now 'user generated'. Meaning that people are creating News stories, videos and more, for the masses of society to view, via applications such as Youtube or Flickr. Web 2.0 is focused on generating 'community' spirit apparently, and with connecting individuals with similar issues, or hobbies together. This is a big change from the 'old media' that used to be around, where people were only allowed to view sites. Now days, on almost every news feed, there is a link where you can post your own personal comments, Which can be seen by other users. The lecture called this version of the web, where anyone who can read or write can participate, the 'read- write web'.

Many industries, such as the recording industry or news media, would prefer that applications like blogging or YouTube, didn't exist. Due to the fact that people with differing opinions can voice their beliefs on the net. Actually, some bloggers can become very popular, attracting thousands upon thousands of hits every day. YouTube, is another perfect example of the power of community media. Anyone can upload a video and sometimes artists are even discovered on the net.

The problems I find that arise with community media, is the fact that because you are sharing information with many other users, whether it be music, a video or just your ideas about an issue. Anyone can find it on the net via a search engine, take it from you and reproduce it. Copywrite is often very hard to fully establish in social networks like Deviant art, for example. Everything you share on the Internet in general in these social networks, are not secure. Someone could take your photo and reproduce it (and your picture might end up as part of a Russian dating site).

People, are exchanging ideas more and more and I believe that is a good thing. But I would never post my music or creative writing on a social network. Due to the fact that many sites such as 'Live Journal' keep your information. What you might have written ten years ago , will still be there fifty years from now no doubt. It makes you wonder doesn't it? How secure are those conversations you have on Facebook? Somewhere out there is probably an entire file on 'Sophie' the Green-Lefty, protestor, being updated as we speak.