Social Media - the web's wild child?

[pop gondola]

 

The internet is dead long live the (next) thing...

 

When Corporates kidnap technology we should all be fitted with bullshit detectors - not the most popular idea but hang in there...

I've been involved in web related business since about 1996 and it has been a wild journey. The early days were full of kids in bedrooms abandoning masturbation in favour of calling themselves web designers because they understood html and had a pirate copy of dreamweaver (then combining design with masturbation by surfking for the deluge of porn inbetween being 'creative). Double glazing salesmen latched on to the idea knowing that as long as you could pronounce technical terms you could sell to people who fell for the 'your business will get left behind and all your competitors are doing it' shite.

We've had Web1, web2 and I stopped counting after that. Now there's theories from 'experts' saying that web sites are like antique books gathering dust upon the shelves of stale businesses becasue the the Social Media revolutionis here and has swamped the world! It's hard to keep up with the feversih race to get to a new technology that people start using 3 years later. Whilst its amazing that revolutions have started thanks to a free and open news network available to billions around the world I wonder how long this open licence to speak out against authority will last. The sheer power of communication that sidesteps the Corporate controllers is a concern - why? because where there are people there is profit. It is a marketing dream. Information on likes and dislikes of everyone on earth is all these manipulative bastards have ever wanted. Years ago, I used to describe how information was sent across the internet by offering up the 'drainpipe trying to feed a million encyclopedias through it' analogy. Now it seems like we're writing the encyclopedias and the corporates are narrowing the drain pipes - unless of course we are willing to pay for access to certain information.

Social Media has inadvertently brought customers to the door of the Corporates by branding people's blogs, facebook pages etc and now everyday seems like one that asks us to complete surveys subliminal or otherwise. The freedom of social media networks that has enabled people power to change regimes, ridicule the law (on that subject of football which we were not discussing, the player in question is a bloke who's first name sounds like Bryan -remove the letter b and second name is what bands do -there I'm risk free) and generate business and friendships for millions of people, has been extraordinary uplifting. But how long will this freedom last? Governments who don't like letting go of their control will no doubt create tougher legislation (China for example) and eventually restrict access. The companies that drive the online industry - telecomms, energy giants, finance houses, pc manufacturers will all want to continue reaping the rewards but there will come a time when restricted access to the internet will be introduced and entrance fees will become more widespread. Sky tv modelling? - first you pay a subscription, then you pay a bit more to watch something sepcial (box office bullshit).

There is a surreal irony to all of this in that the US has probably more information on UK citizens than the British government has thanks to the popularity of Google, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube etc all US based businesses, and of course Lockheed - the US arms manufacturer who also do population censuses as a sideline.

So how long do we have with social networks before automatic monitoring software is powerful enough to send red flags to those watching? Even taking in my own paranoia (moderate without twitching) ? I have no idea but as long as us ornery folk have access to ideas and millions of fellow cynics we still have an element of control of this remarkable technology. Which is why at some point in the near future control will be the next big thing (again).

If you price people out of the game only those who conform eventually get to play and creativity will blend into beige. And if you choke the voices of a majority of people who can see through government corruption then you have absolute control. Start training your pigeons.

I am also available for childrens parties (thanks to Bill Hicks for that one).

Pop