The Commercialization Of the Internet

YorickFinn writes "Common Dreams recently posted an article by Norman Solomon on "Denial and the Ravaging of Cyberspace." In short, Solomon argues that the commonly held view of the net as the last bastion of truly democratic mass communication is, in fact, a myth. For instance, he points out that "Websites operated by just four corporations account for 50.4 percent of the time that U.S. users of the Web are now spending online...." Ultimately, Solomon claims that the net may become more like "interactive digital TV," with the decline in the use of browsers and the increasing prominence of technology such as MTV.(The "M" is for Microsoft, formerly WebTV.) All told, his forecast is somewhat bleak, but not entirely unfounded. Worth the read."

Comments

Re:Stupid Users

[Deskpoet]

I'm sorry, could you say that again??!! You aren't going to blame the people but you are going to blame an inanimate object instead. How convenient. Like it has been said, the Internet will not be what you want it to be but what you make of it.

I guess I'll have to, because it's obvious that my point was at 55000 ft. as it flew over your befuddled scalp.

Simply, technology does not grant freedom, and any discussion about freedom in the context of technology is flawed from the get-go.

Further, technology in general is a form of social control, and a means of securing priviledge for those who possess it over those who don't. Remember the opening of _2001_? Think of that next time this thought confuses you....