What does everyone think the broad ramifications of Internet democratization are? I'm talking specifically about the way the Internet has unquestionably made the individual more powerful than he or she used to be prior to its invention. People have far greater access to free markets (for both buying and selling) through the Internet. People have far greater access to various types of technology (software, hardware) and technological services through the Internet.
Perhaps most importantly, people have access to a much more level playing field for information dissemination through the Internet than through other media. You can't start a full featured newspaper, television network or (traditional) radio station in a living room or basement, but you can start and run a full-featured website that dominates a specific section of the web from your home on a very modest budget. Perhaps I'm looking for a word other than democratization (because I'm not using the regular definition of the term), but it's the best single word I can think of for technology that broadly empowers the common citizen as the Internet does. I think it's safe to say that the common man is far more empowered today through the Internet than our previous generations were. Any thoughts? And do you think we're at the high point of this trend or just the beginning of it? (My pessimistic view is that the Internet can only remain as free as it has been up to this point for so long, before government conspire to restrain it.)
Top
