Web 2.0 you say?

In 2004, at a media and technology conference, the O'Reilly media conference a new term to describe the changing face of the internet was born, "Web 2.0." Despite some debate circulating between technology experts and their camps, the effects of Web 2.0 are as real as anything else about the internet. In a nutshell, Web 2.0 describes the trend on the World Wide Web and among web designers to create sites that allow users to be more creative, share information, and most notably, collaborate. Any quick survey of the most popular contemporary websites would yield such results as Myspace, Facebook, YouTube and others; evidence of what tech experts begin touting in 2004. These sites allow users to create highly customized content, share information among other users, and of course become associated with other like minded users.

The eloquence in social networking sites such as these is their ability to incorporate a fundamental communication principle: interactionism. Of course, many communication scholars would say that a system such as this is based on an antiquated view of communication, but it serves to show the changing scope of the internet to reflect the patterns of human communication. No, not quite perfect yet!

The point here is how fast they have taken root. Site goers appreciate being able to send AND receive messages; create relevant content, and create a shared experience. This characteristic is what gives social networking sites their relevance in a discussion of the future of the internet.

Obviously, this topic is entirely too broad to truly give it justice so this will be an ongoing discussion.