Jaron Lanier vs. Web 2.0

December 28, 2012 David Newhoff Tags: jaron lanier ron rosenbaum smithsonia

I’ve quoted Lanier several times recently, and I highly recommend his book You Are Not a Gadget. Lanier has a new book coming out and is featured in this profile by Ron Rosenbaum for Smithsonian. Lanier is one of the architects of the Web as we currently know it; and he is concerned that we have designed Web 2.0 to serve interests anathema to our humanity. Read What Turned Jaron Lanier Against the Web at Smithsonian.com.

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Tags: jaron lanier ron rosenbaum smithsonia

David Newhoff

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David is an author, communications professional, and copyright advocate. After more than 20 years providing creative services and consulting in corporate communications, he shifted his attention to law and policy, beginning with advocacy of copyright and the value of creative professionals to America’s economy, core principles, and culture.

2 Comments

Marc McKenzie says:

December 28, 2012 at 1:10 pm

An excellent article. Lanier raises some very uncomfortable truths about Web 2.0; in fact, I’ve had some of those concerns for the past few years but could never fully express them. Both Lanier and Andrew Keen (and also Nick Cohen) are shaping up to be the conscience that Web 2.0 should have had, but lost.

While I believe in a better future, I no longer believe in utopia.

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- David Newhoff says:
  
  December 28, 2012 at 7:10 pm
  
  Thanks for commenting, Marc. I find Lanier validating concerns I feel instinctively and that I have only recently begun to examine. I do wonder if there is any hope that enough people will consider what guys like Lanier are saying to make a difference.
  
  Reply