technoculture314-09

The powerful impact of Web2.0 can not be explained in just few sentences. However, it is worth noting that there is one strong impact, or in another word it is a popular term called User Generated Content(UGC). In the digital space, UGC makes difference in people’s lives. All the doubts, emotions and knowledge can post in online environment. Web2.0 is recognised as new version of World Wide Web. It has potential to be people’s voices. Blogs, social networks and wikis are all captivating parts of Web2.0. Moreover, they are essential platforms for generating individual concerns about public and private issues.

Trebor Scholz warned that unbridled enthusiasm for user-generated content may mask an undercurrent of capitalist exploitation. I’d like to also add that, on the one hand UGC boost user’s creativity. On the other hand, business owners desire to gain more public attention. The main goal for having UGC is still about financial success.For instance, New's cooperation owner Rupert Murdoch focus on financial success at World Media Summit this year. He states that internet search engine should pay for news.

However, in Dijck’s reading, a different economics perspective is revealed. Dijck believes that business interest has apparently shifted away from consuming activities and gravitated towards producing activities, giving users more power over content because they add business value. The veil of capitalism in this context seems controversial, however, I assume public and business owner have different purposes. It is a simple chain effect: one produces, one consumes, one gets benefits.