How the web became Web 2.0
Marketers use the term "Web 2.0." to describe the Internet of today.
Web 2.0 refers to interactive features of the Internet that connect people and allow them to share common interests and content. A major component of Web 2.0 is social media, which is the focus of my discussion.
Social media is a media form where users dictate the flow of content and where interaction between users is key.
In social media, the readers and users contribute to the content. In some cases, as in file, video or photo sharing, the users provide all of the content.
Other examples include blogs, social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook where users make friends, share personal information and communicate with each other, photo or video sharing sites and discussion boards.
Other forms include bookmarking tools which allow you to sort through your favorite sites from any computer and rating systems that help users share userful information with each other.
Social media got its start in the mid 1990's with online weblogs (blogs) that began mostly as personal online diaries. As blogs grew in number and popularity, they invited readers to add comments and to add their own entries. This allowed users to interact at a much faster pace than traditional media.
Today blogs are complemented by photosharing sites like Flickr, which allows people to post their own photos to be searched for and viewed by others, along with the ability to comment on photos. The site YouTube is the same concept for videos.
Not only are internet users taking advantage of the power of interactive media, but advertisers and marketers have caught on.. It is common to find television commercials posted on YouTube, it is also common to see products and services advertised on relevant blogs.
My next article will break down the types of social media and the most popular sites out there as I bring a complete perspective to this growing communications form.
