What is Government 2.0?
The quick explanation is collaborative governance, where officials and citizens interact to create popular solutions to complex problems. It’s not a new idea, but the tools of Web 2.0 have made it more accessible. For further reading, IBM did a great white paper on the subject. Additionally, check out William D. Eggers’ 2005 book on the subject, and the recent white papers and examples provided by the Federal Web Managers Council.
OK, so what is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is a generation of applications for and uses of the Web for sharing and interacting. Instead of the Web delivering content, it’s now a platform for creating and expanding information and tools. Again, not a new idea, but one that increased user bandwidth and new technologies have made more accessible. Tim O’Reilly came up with the concept, his thoughts are here.
I think I’m getting it. So how about this term “social media?”
Social media is simply information sharing between people. It uses the tools of Web 2.0 to do what informal conversations between people used to do in smaller societies. It allows the formation of both tight and loose-knit communities of interest across great physical spaces. Check out Wikipedia for more reading on this.
Are traditional, paid journalist no longer needed?
While the traditional media are undergoing great strain in the age of social media, I believe the role of the paid journalist is still very important. Most of us simply don’t have the time, training and institutional authority to put together complex investigative reporting, for example. And, new revenue models in the Web 2.0 environment haven’t yet created the kind of ethical framework that gives many traditional journalists a position of trust and authority in the popular consciousness.
How can I learn more?
Google. Seriously. Just run a few of these phrases through a search for a wealth of great information and discussion. And feel free to contribute. 2.0 means it’s your Web, and your democracy. For a quick primer on social media and related terminology, check our this recent edition of Voice of Technology.
What is the comment policy here?
first four points, credit to Change.gov
Stay focused. All viewpoints are welcome, but comments should remain on the topic set by the original blog post, discussion question or other type of initial entry.
Be respectful. Ad hominem or personal attacks, profanity, and aggressive behavior are prohibited. Instigating arguments in a disrespectful way is also prohibited.
Tell the truth. Spreading misleading or false information is prohibited.
No spam. Repeated posting of identical or very similar content in a counter-productive manner is prohibited – this includes posts aggressively promoting services or products.
This is a personal site and comments may be removed at my sole discretion at any time and for any reason.
Why do you maintain this blog?
As a Christian, I believe that what matters is faith expressing itself through love. This blog is a way of sharing what I know and connecting people with information to help their lives. It is an act of love.
Header photo by Steven W. Burt, from Flickr and Creative Commons.
[...] FAQ [...]
Sorry to burst your bubble, Adriel, as you provide great questions and answers, but like I argued last fall against versioning the web [http://ariwriter.com/2008/11/top-10-reasons-why-versioning-the-web-is-silly/], there is a story in TechCrunch that Web 2.0 search terms are dying: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/14/the-death-of-web-20/
I’ve never been a fan of 2.0 this, 2.0 that, including the term of government. I’m willing to bet, Adriel, outside of a couple people here and there, most of the 175 million-membership of Facebook have never heard the term Government 2.0, let alone Web 2.0. Not to mention the local high school students I’ve met who are active on Facebook but never heard of “social media.”
Kids say the darnedest things and if you approach a 7-year-old, she probably knows what the word, “government” means. Ask her for a versioned definition, and she’ll stay mum. Same for the web. Same for anything else.
I appreciate your evangelism for Government 2.0, and posts like this help me remember why I like reading your blog, but I’m equally passionate about killing the term.
I’m on the fence for this debate. Personally, I’m fairly indifferent to the use of the term Web 2.0. Although, I cringe a little every time I hear a person carelessly affix 2.0 to a word or phrase. I do, however, believe there is some redeemable conceptual value in the term “web 2.0″ and the whole 2.0 meme but I think that it is far too often abused or hijacked for other purposes.
As for government 2.0, I can see the value in using it but I could see myself easily using the term “e-government”, “e-participation”, etc.
My only real contribution is that I find the whole debate of terminology, scope and usage very interesting as this is similar to the debate that is happening with the term “cloud computing”. Its scope debatable. It has no consensus over its definition . It is often conceptual very similar to one or more existing concepts (grid computing, utility computing, SaaS, etc).
In this cloud debate, I found this person’s analogy of “defining a table” very helpful so I thought I would share it. See http://gevaperry.typepad.com/main/2009/01/what-is-a-cloud-first-define-a-table-the-furniture-kind-that-is.html
Ari, I found your list (and links) interesting and compelling. [http://ariwriter.com/2008/11/top-10-reasons-why-versioning-the-web-is-silly/]
However, I disagree with a few points.
1) I don’t think many people actually understand “the web”. I know lots of people that type URLs into Google cause they think that Google is the “web” or people that still use AOL who thinking its the “web”.
2) See “define a table” analogy from above, or rather “you know it when you see it” argument
3) There doesn’t have to be a Web 1.0 or Web 3.0 just because there was a Web 2.0. By the time “Web 3.0″ rolls around people will use another term to classify it. I think of Windows 2000 being followed by XP being followed by Vista. I think of Generation X, being followed by Millennials now instead of “Generation Y”….speaking of which going back to 2) how do you define generation x? people argue over the exact date ranges of this generation and conceptually its descriptors can be vague or imprecise.
4) I completely agree with the digital divide statement but not sure how that relates to the whole versioning argument.
5) I can explain a lot of things without knowing the etymology of a word. Although I think knowing the etymology helps. Knowing that he is a publisher and sells books and that his goal isn’t understanding but rather money making and marketing; I mean he trademarked the phrase.
6) Just because high schoolers and digital natives don’t know the term, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist or doesn’t have value. Plus they are hardly the “experts”. Many digital natives use a technology but often have no real understanding of how the technology functions or the socio-technical implications of it.
….
Basically the list makes it seem that the justification and validity of the term relates to its popularity among certain population groupings, which reinforces the whole marketing approach.
As in… if celebrities know it (letterman), if the kids on the street know it (high schoolers), if family members know it (grandma), if the news knows it (denver post), or the TV tells me it, then it must exist and be valid. If “they” don’t say it, then its not valid? … I’m not sure about the whole social constructionism approach.
…but who knows maybe one day (perhaps shortly) we might see the term “web 2.0″ on Save the Word -> http://savetheword.org/
[...] FAQ [...]
[...] about how busy folks can use modern communications tools to take direct control of their democracy. Social media and 2.0 culture has the power to engage active citizens and businesspeople with their local community and [...]
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Please send me your email and tel. so I can invite you to an event at GAFFTA.org Nov. 10.