As you might expect, one of the most common questions I am asked is, “What is the Web 2.0?”. When I was asked that by one of my employees earlier today, I figured that it was time to answer it. Much ink has been spilled trying to define the Web 2.0, including huge quantities of techno-babble and buzz words. If you are completely unfamiliar with the concept, In Business actually has a very enlightening article entitled Web 2.0: Come Closer, Said the Spider to the Fly that talks about the basic concepts behind the Web 2.0. Instead of just a technological advancement, the Web 2.0 is a cultural development:

“Web 2.0, he explained, is an emerging cultural phenomenon. It isn’t just using the Internet as a platform to conduct business or as a convenient way to earn a master’s degree in your pajamas. It is the mental acceptance of the web as a dimension, with social components and memberships. It’s seeing it as something we contribute to, as well as benefit from. It isn’t a work-play separation, but a work-play blend.”

For those who are still stuck in the original Web 1.0 paradigm of the late 1990’s, this cultural phenomenon may be hard to grasp, but it is absolutely essential to understand.

Web 2.0 Sites