465: Open / Closed
We've seen an incredible change in the architecture of the internet. Not just how it operates, but how we operate within it. Think back to the days when YouTube was new, only a handful of people knew what Facebook was, and cell phones were for making phone calls! Early adopters were making podcasts and writing blogs. Wikipedia was an exciting experiment. The old gatekeepers of media were crumbling and the web seemed open to everyone. Today, however, we largely experience the internet through apps, ads and proprietary platforms. There's the decline of the open source software movement, the possibility of a fragmented internet, and the growing popularity of small, closed networks. But, is it really case-closed on the open web? And if so, why should we care? + David Weinberger is a researcher at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society. He's also the author of, most recently, Everyday Chaos: Technology, Complexity and How We're Thriving in a New World of Possibility. + Takara Small is the technology columnist for CBC Toronto's morning show, Metro Morning. She's also the founder of VentureKids Canada, and host of the Globe and Mail's tech podcast, I'll Go First.