Keen/Rushkoff

1.  Keen defines democratized media as user-generated content on the Internet.  His main issues with this trend are generally that user-generated content is not reliable and it undermines professionals.  Another point Keen made was that he feels democratized media is inhibiting our societies creative minds and essentially "dumbing us down."   Keen feels that democratized media is the worst thing to happen to the Internet because the sources of information cannot be trusted.  "Disintermediation" is the cause of this problem because there is no one to check the information to make sure that it is legitimate.

2. Keen and Rushkoff have differing views on Web 2.0 and some are similar.  For the most part, Rushkoff believes Web 2.0 is beneficial and helping our society advance.  He sees the side of Web 2.0 that in fact enables creativity rather than inhibit it.  However, Rushkoff does admit there are some problems with Web 2.0 dealing more with legitimacy of information.  Keen on the other hand, is completely against Web 2.0.  Keen feels that Web 2.0 is the downfall of our society and ultimately making people less creative.  I definitely agree more with Rushkoff''s view than Keens.  I think that user-generated content has made our society more creative than ever before and enables us to do things that mankind has never experienced.  Additionally, I do see problems with legitimacy of information, but I do not see it as a problem because there are ways to tell if things are accurate.  Furthermore, Web 2.0 makes information quick and at hand which I think makes society smarter.