Impress Your Professor: The Changing Net

The latest ASIST Bulletin has an interesting review of a discussion/panel at the recent Annual Meeting. At the meeting, Genevieve Bell gave a talk about how the Internet is more than just technology or a series or webpages. It's, in a way, a philosophy. The author states:

Bell’s final pivot point involves new and old anxieties. There are concerns about privacy, trust, security, and now, reliability. There are also concerns about access, reputation/image, participation, sustainability, responsibility, authenticity, authorship, ownership, surveillance and control, cultural health (digital literacy), dumbing down and distinctiveness. The list of things we need to worry about, she says, is expanding quickly.

If you were unable to make the Annual Meeting, I suggest checking the story out. Heck, even if you didn't miss the meeting, this review is still a good read.

I for one, find the idea of the Internet as cultural is too often overlooked. What say you?