Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is NOT a new piece of software, or a new type of internet. It is a phrase, referring to the way we use the internet today. Today we dont just brouse pages, or simply read text on a screen. We are now able to be much more creative, in sharing and accessing information. Interactivity has changed massively: we can now talk to friends and family online, through instant messengers such as MSN, and social networking websites like Bebo & Facebook. This is an example of what is meant by the term "global village". Web 2.0 also allows personalisation, letting us customise whatever we want, however we want. From our social networking website page, to our avatars in online gaming. It has also lead to democratisation. Individuals are able to express themselves however they please, and can say whatever they want.
It all sounds pretty good, but think about it...
How do we (or should we) control or police information put onto the web? And should we have they right to say whatever we want, and post it on the web? Many social networking websites will cancel your membership if you are viewed as behaving inappropriately, but who decides what is right and what is wrong? Some may say that these sites are enhacing socialisation through the virtual world, however, some may disagree and view them as having a negative effect; stopping people from interacting face to face. A fact which cannot be denied, is that we have access to an extremely large amount of information available to us at the click of a button, but is having access to virtually anything a good thing? Cases of peodophilia have arisen, and you can even watch people being shot. The music industry has fallen majorly as people can download music for free, but is this a positive or negative? Web 2.0 is undeniably life changing.

This video "Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us" on youtube gives you an idea of what web 2.0 is if your still not sure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE
I thought this was a good quote, kind of sums up what web 2.0 is all about:
"The web is linking people. Web 2.0 is linking people...people sharing, trading and collaborating."