Why the online revolution is just another line

There are many examples of citizens having their 15 minutes of political fame by bringing to the fore an issue that might otherwise have stayed hidden. However, only a very narrow interpretation of democracy could argue this is a revolution. Bloggers may be able to "out" politicians behaving badly, but it is still only an avenue for reactive political action. "Real world" activism and political engagement are still needed to bring about real change. Who will be left to do this when everyone is making videos of themselves for YouTube?
Second, can we really believe Time Warner, the world's largest media corporation, when it says that I, that is, you, control the media now? Is it really possible that there has been a takeover by the little people and big media are celebrating the demise of their own power? Hardly. To see how limited the revolution really is, just look at the top 20 popular websites in Australia. They reflect the real power structure of the internet: Microsoft and the two online giants Google and Yahoo. So much for the citizen-controlled media.

Sphere: Related Content