Answers to the Virtual Revolution Documentary

1.     The web is celebrated as the revolutionary technology that is great leveling of humanity creating equal opportunity, equal access, and equal potential. However, there are only a quarter of people on the earth who can use it. How do you explain the controversial argument here?

The most important issue regarding unequal access in 3^rd countries such as Africa because poorer, less powerful nations do not have the financial capabilities that other global super powers have in the advancement of technology. 

2.     How is Wikipedia the best example to implement the leveling ideas of the Web rooted in the cultural revolution of 1960s, namely the Libertarianism in the counter culture? How does it explain some of the digital convergences?

Libertarianism, and ideal created by the counterculture in 1960’s blends left and right wing ideas that emphasize the individual free will. Wikipedia is a prime example of libertarianism on the web because it gives everyday people a voice to anonymously author and edit information. It undercuts authority and hierarchy by giving the average individual power.

3.     How does the Web make it possible for different kinds of digital convergence?

The web makes different aspects of digital convergence possible because it gives ordinary members of society to express their opinions, values, and belief through blogging, social media tools, and forums. The web’s malleability is helpful to convergence because the components listed above can be accessed from a stationary computer to a mobile device.

4.     How can the Internet become a challenge for traditional authority? Use the political landscape changes in some counties to illustrate your answer.

The Internet is a challenge to traditional authority. For example, Oly Okollah of Kenya began a documentary type of blog for everyone to participate in. This forum was created based on violent events following an election of the government. Average people were given the opportunity to post a play-by-play of the violence going on. This powerful blog then pushed and pressured the Kenyan government to put a stop to what was happening.

5.     Do you believe that getting information free can set us free eventually? Why or Why not? Do you see any concerns of the complete freedom or self-expression without limit on the Internet? Why or why not?

I do believe there are both positive and negatives in gaining information. For good, there is a certain freedom each individual should have in order to access what kind of information benefits and pertains to their own life. However, if information became completely free, society as a whole would collapse. People would question rules and authority established due to the freedom of total and complete access.

6.     In traditional media communication, it has the “vertical” authority. In the Web communication, it becomes “horizontal?” How do you explain the change? How does this create the possibility for digital media convergence?

Web communication has a more “horizontal” authority because everyone is credited as equal online. No one is higher than another and every individual is on-par with one another. This gives the possibility of digital media convergence because everyone and anyone can post believing each has their own equal opportunity on the web.

7.     Why is that the Web is free critical for the success of the Web itself? How does that clash with the corporate business ideology? How does that pose challenges for copyright issues at the same time? What will happen if the Web is not free?

The web being free is critical for its success and survival. This is true because, it is what drew users to it in the first. The web will continue to be a major player in our world if it stays free to the public. Online every individual is considered equal; the online world is blind to status, wealth, sex, and gender. This idea clashes with the corporate business world because people of higher standing do not matter compared to a stay-at-home mom whose popularity online is rising because of her blog. The corporate world faces immense competition thanks to freedom the web has given to the rest of society. Copyright laws are challenged by the average individual, who has the ability “pirate” information for free without any disregard. For example, you will frequently see in the description bar in YouTube, that the average user “does not have rights to following” because they are borrowing material from someone else. If this example isn’t followed, the creators of the material have the power to shut down who has pirated their information.