Giving credit where credit is due.

Throughout my years at Auckland university, studying media I have come across a substantial amount of theorists who speak of the internet as a new revolutionary medium which will transform the passive viewer in to one that is more active. I do agree with theorists such as Jenkins who argue that the internets characteristics such as affordability and accessibility have created a democratic domain where a variety of voices can be heard. On the News the other night was a story on a political blogger Cameron Slater, the internet had given him the opportunity to voice his opinions and be heard, even if they were at times controversial. To me this seems like a huge step for the little people in the world, as it gives us a place to put across our opinions. However, van Dijcks article and others has also shown me how participating with new media such as the internet is actually allot more complex than just saying that it has made us all more active agents. It is true how not all people who use the internet are active participants, I may have thought the internet has given me a more active voice but in reality I haven’t really created anything on the net beside my face book page which isn’t really a place I voice my opinion because it seems public and is just a place to see what my mates have been doing in the weekends and so on. These blogs are probably the most active thing I’ve done on the net so far, and I’m really enjoying it. Also on face book there is huge amount of control by advertisers I get ads filling up my private mailbox all the time. Also to think that they use and keep my data is kind of scary. I’m glad the internet has given some the advantage to become more active however I now see that maybe the internet should not be getting too much credit in relation to giving people more user agency and also should be seen as a form of control.