Opposition to Wesch's claim

Andrew Keen presents an opposing idea to Wesch's, seeing web 2.0 as a much more negative entity. He claims that it devalues true expertise and talented individuals in favor of the amateur, throwing culture into chaos.

I do not believe this is exactly true. Many prolific YouTube creators have built careers and businesses much like traditional media companies. Rhett and Link and the Fine Bros, for example, produce shows that use standard sets and a production crew. The latter have also produced a television show for Nickelodeon. Web 2.0 content producers are not degrading professionals. In many cases, they emulate them, and collaborate with professionals to ensure they produce quality content for their viewers.

It is the same with his claim that Internet Ogliarchs are replacing those of Old Media. No-one is deposing the controllers of standard media. For a start, there are no true Internet Ogliarchs; No-one truly rules the web, though several personalities do have considerable influence with their fans (as do more 'traditional' celebrities). What they are doing is giving old media ogliarchs huge competition.

However, the relationship isn't always antagonistic. Several YouTube channels, such as the Fine Bros and Epic Meal Time, have been invited to create television programmes. Others have written books, collaborated on music tracks, advertised products,etc.

It is true, on the other hand, that YouTube videos can have a 'shout loudest, seen most' sense to them. The more outrageous a video is, the more likely it is to be shared. But then, that isn't exactly a new trick in the book. Marketing campaigns have been doing impressive stunts to raise awareness for ages.

Additionally, more traditional media stars have been able to use YouTube to find huge success. the Korean music artist Psy, for example, released Gangnam Style on YouTube in December 2015, and the outrageously funny video spawned hundreds of imitations and parodies. The video became a viral sensation, becoming the most-viewed video on YouTube with over 2.5 billion views.

However, despite all this, it is clear that media is changing. YouTube is a huge, and growing, media platform, one which avoids many of the traditions of media. Anyone can pick up a camera, anyone can create a video. Anyone can, with enough effort and maybe some luck, become a star.