Web 2.0

The way we communicate today versus even ten years ago, has changed vastly.  Cell phones now in almost everyone's hand, they not only allow us to call anyone, anywhere, the texting and media are what these devices are mostly used for.  And this is key to the growing trend of how the mass at large communicates with one another, to the masses.

Web 2.0 is a term coined around 1999, and the definition varies slightly depending on who you're talking to, but the image above is an image of Web 2.0 at work, more importantly the way I am delivering it to you.  I, as a blogger in my class, am participating in this (relatively new) phenomenon of convergence culture.  As a blogger, I am one person, communicating with many, through mass communication.  This is not my preference, and I am just starting to really delve into what Web 2.0 has to offer.

Interpersonal communication is what I prefer.  Before texting, when a cell phone even, was just a phone, I used it rarely.  This is true today; I loathe phone conversations.  This is simply because I do not believe the phone should be used for conversations.  I prefer face-to-face interaction, but that's me.  As a test to myself, I recently deactivated my facebook account.  I've had it for about two years, because before that, facebook infuriated me so much that I shut it off and went without for almost two years. 

I see the benefits of facebook, I do.  Mainly, the ability to reconnect with people you might not otherwise.  But after over a week without facebook, I can say I feel only relief.  I am planning a few events at my second job, and I can see why having facebook right now would be useful, as I could easily advertise/promote the event.  It's not however, enough of a lure to draw me back.

Many to many communication is another part of Web 2.0.  I found another blogger that talks about this here: http://www.nojitter.com/post/225702034/manytomany-communication-and-social-media-in-the-enterprise

He explains also how the new mass-to-mass communication is difficult for corporations to deal with, mostly because of the instant communication social media can produce, and this is not conducive to corporate structure/function.

He describes this here:

"1) Control--Organizations like to control all information out of their environment. Marketing controls information around the brand, Legal controls information to protect the organization from lawsuits and to guard intellectual property, and Customer Service addresses issues on a case by case basis.
2) Role--Everyone in an organization has a specific job and role, so while it may be one person's job to follow and respond to a social media site on behalf of a company, not everyone in the company is allowed to.
3) Process--Organizations have specific processes for generating and approving information and how it is communicated. Posting information real-time, on the "fly", is usually not possible."

Overall, Web 2.0 is a good thing.  Of course there are the 'bad eggs', but this is the same as with any new concept.