Before I had read Reader 1 I had never heard of the term Web 2.0. After reading the document I realised how little I had thought about the development of Web 2.0, and the impact it is making on the world.
What is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is a web-based community that enables you interact and share between other web users, unlike Web 1.0 where the communication is one way, and the user obtains information the the creator has provided. There is usually no interaction between the two. Web 2.0 however has created a path for people to share and interact with one another. Examples of Web 2.0 are Facebook, Twitter, blogs, Google+, YouTube, etc. From looking into this it has made me realise how dependant we are on Web 2.0. Most of us would have to admit that we go onto these sites for example Facebook, when we first wake up, before we go to bed, whenever we have a spare moment. Most of us have gotten into the habit of constantly updating people about our day or reading about what has happened in someone else's day. Not only has it taken over our social lives it is also taking over our work lives. It is becoming a necessity to know the communication technologies that exist now.
How Web 2.0 Helps
In one of the sections in the reader it talks about a ‘collective intelligence’ this I think has had the biggest impact on peoples lives. Feenberg & Bakardjieva, 2004 stated Web 2.0 offers a ‘social space for people, strangers and almost strangers with diverse backgrounds to come together as equals, as generators of ideas, to deliberate and act collectively’. When I read this statement it summed up the main positive influence of Web 2.0. The incredible amount of knowledge and interaction we can now gain has changed so much. Another aspect which I thought was key to Web 2.0 was by Ullrich, they stated the importance of participation and how it has developed. By making it a lot easier to use the social media sites, software etc. more and more people can use Web 2.0, thereby increasing the information available. For example, even the older generation who grew up in a time when computer technology did not exist, are now able to use the social medium without significant training.
After reading the Reader I also started to think about how Web 2.0 technologies help me personally in my work life and personal life. In the performing industry there has been a massive increase over the years of online performing profiles and being able to apply for castings and auditions through this format. Websites such as, ‘Talent cast’, ‘DancersPro’, ‘Spotlight’, ‘Star Now’, and the Facebook group ‘The Hustle’ has enabled performers to gain more information about auditions, jobs and agencies so much quicker than you could ever do before. Sites such as YouTube has enabled dance companies, individuals and artists to show off their work in a visual format which is an amazing tool for performers particularly as what we do is visual. Rather than just uploading photos we are now able to upload videos a lot easier than we use to before.
Away from my work life I love social media. The main reason is that I am able to see what my family and friends are up to when I am unable to see or speak to them regularly. When I have been away in the past or my family and friends have, we have been able to communicate and show people what we are doing right down to where we are and who we are with.
There is a Negative Side
Another area in Reader 1 that had got me thinking was the term ‘Netiqutte’. I looked up the definition of Netiquette is: ‘ the rules of etiquette that apply when communicating over computer networks, particularly over the internet.’ Over the last few years it has become more and more apparent that not everyone behaves how they should do whilst using the internet. For example cyber bullying and trolls have increased to the point where there is now a new criminal law to try to stop this from happening. Many people in the public eye have had an experience of this in some form. Unfortunately some individuals have seen the internet as a way to express how they feel and what they think in a negative way. Comments that people would rarely ever say to someone’s face or put in writing as a letter appears to have become easier to do on the web. As they are at home behind the computer screen and can just do it with a click of a button. I think people gain a false sense of security and forget what they are actually writing could insult, scare or effect people in a negative way.
Another interesting point to look into was from Kuehn 2010, they talk about the boundaries of someone’s personal and professional life. When using social media such as Facebook it can sometimes be difficult to separate the two without causing problems. For example if your occupation is in a position of trust such as a teacher, they would not want their pupils and their pupils parents seeing what their teacher is doing at the weekend, as that may be seen as inappropriate and unprofessional. Much like as a performer you would have professional photos done for modelling or some dance contracts which may be revealing, however you wouldn't necessarily want the people you work with in your part-time job to see them or if you taught children at an after-school club.
Another area that I have found recently is that people spend a lot of time looking at what others do and making themselves look better just for their online life. For example, on a recent work trip myself and a few of me fellow cast members took a short trip around Johannesburg. We saw some amazing sites during this trip, half way through the day I over heard one of the girls say ‘Lets just get a photo so we can put it on Facebook, to show everyone we were here, instead of actually going in’ She was more interested in the idea of everyone knowing she was at an amazing place rather than actually taking an interest in what was around her and appreciating that moment. This made me feel so sad as she could not appreciate what a brilliant opportunity it was to be there and learn more about different culture and was more interested in how it would look on Facebook.
Conclusion:
Overall Reading Reader 1 has made me really think about what Web 2.0 is, how it enhances us and how it can be used against us. It is important to look at the difference between using it for work and for every day life. For us as performers I think it is an great tool that has enhanced our industry completely. However it is important not to lose sight of real life.
References
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/netiquette
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