The web is in motion

Web 2.0 is taking over the Internet and most importantly the mainstream media. Cole Camplese wrote an article about Web 2.0 and used 'Charlie Bit My Finger' as a classic example of what the Internet is becoming. The article was posted on the Christian Science Monitor (CSM). CSM is an international newspaper published by The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass.

'Charlie...' is a simple home produced video about a baby biting his older brother's finger. Who would believe such a simple concept for a video would become a big hit on the Internet? There was no concept to begin with for this video. The parents were just trying to record home footage of a big brother playing with his little brother. The funny thing about this video is that the kid continues to let his little brother bite his finger. He even puts his finger to his mouth basically asking him to bite.




Camplese uses this to discuss how any person can become famous on the Web. Camplese is the director of Education Technology Services at Penn State. He brings up how this video had no marketing or significant cost to producing this and it turned into a Web sensation. This video has more views than some movies in current theatres in the United States.

I agree with his point that people are posting to the Web for attention. As Camplese states, many traditional news organizations will cite the social medias, such as Facebook, You Tube, Twitter, Myspace and others in their news reporting. Since we are so close to election time, he says the social media will play a big role in news reporting. I have to agree, especially when people with little knowledge about computers can post a video on You Tube and receive air time.

One phenomena that reminded me of 'Charlie...' was the craze around new teen rapper Soulja Boy. He had a song called 'Crank That'. You Tube will not allow me to embed the video in my blog, so just click on the link and it should take you to the video.

He self-produced the song and posted it on You Tube initially. He made millions of dollars off the song. By typing in the key words 'Crank That' on You Tube, viewers can find so much material relating to the song. Here is one example.



Viewers can find the official video for the song, home videos and mash ups from popular media. Someone on You Tube took the time out to do a mash up with the loveable purple dinosaur, Barney. I know I do not have that much time to create something like that. A creation like that still takes talent.



A major chunk of Camplese's article talked about teens and their heavy usage of social media. As from the Soulja Boy example, the social media is another alternative to becoming discovered.