Web 2.0 is just beginning
November 3rd, 2008 by bruno boutotWhy are so many people suddenly entertaining the thought of the imminent death of Web 2.0? As I understand it, Web 2.0 is just beginning to be used by mass media and businesses: their managers are curious about it, they are giving contracts to explore how it could work for them. The light of dawn is appearing on the horizon, but the landscape is still bathed in Web 1.0 darkness. #
So many of us are interconnected that I am sure we can find people proclaiming the end of Web 2.0 as soon as Tim O’Reilly coined the idea in 2004. A good overview of the present “crisis” is given by Scott Loganbill in monkey_bites. #
It really comes down to what meaning you give to Web 2.0. In 2005, when Tim himself gave a very thorough and complex explanation, I had the idea of copyrighting a very simple one: “Web 2.0 is about people”. I was working at the time on an urban community project with Sylvain Carle, now CTO of Praized. When I told him my copyrighting idea, he just typed the words in Google and, with his usual laid back attitude, turned toward me his laptop screen. There weren’t 1690 results as there are today, but certainly a hundred. #
Too bad for my (flawed) idea of owning this definition, but it is still the most simple, clear and useful one today: “Web 2.0 is about people“: Web 1.0 is the Web of broadcasting sites, of one to many, of push. Web 2.0 is the Web where you interact with real people, one by one, whom you can identify, welcome, respect and memorize. #
Web 1.0 is based on messages.
Web 2.0 is based on one person at a time. #
Web 1.0 is the Web of products.
Web 2.0 is the Web of relationships. #
Web 2.0 is not a trend, a fashion, a gimmick, a moment in time.
The Web is here to stay and more people are on the Web every day.
Opening real one to one relationships with readers and consumers is the revolution that is shaking all mass media and the whole marketing universe. #
Mass media and marketing know how to push.
They are just beginning to learn how to welcome. #
Web 2.0 is just beginning. #
