NMA- blog 5

Reading: User created content and online social networks- By Jean Burgess and John Banks

This article discusses the way the internet has changed because of user created content and social networking on the web due to the availability to consumers to upload their own videos, ideas and information. It talks about how major corporations and companies such as you tube and flicker rely on consumers to keep their web sites running and interesting. “People participate in creating content and online social networking for a range of cultural and social commercial purposes, taking advantage of the affordances of online platforms and services.” (Burgess and Banks p.297) He says how some content is just personal and creative for users and others are using it as a way to make money.

Video games are also being enhances and developed by users who now have the ability to create or edit their own levels and share them with users. Social networking sites are developing quickly, flicker went from a network to share personal photos to a respected platform to showcase professional photography. People are open to comment and ask questions about the photos and share skills. Cunningham says, “uploading a clip to YouTube is now almost as ordinary an act as chatting about it.”(Burgess and Banks p. 299)These accessibilities are making life faster and more advanced.

Privacy is a concern with social networking like facebook, people post a lot about their lives that could be used against them. This result in the literacy for computer skills to be improved so that they can protect their personal information and not let the world be able to access it. Piracy and personal copyright is always a concern, “should uploading a favourite song to YouTube without the permission of the copyright holder be treated as piracy?” (Burgess and Banks p. 304) The internet has allowed for the connectivity around the world, giving people the platform to share and experience different cultures, activities, and stay in touch.