The Dual Nature of Participatory Web and How Misinformation Seemingly Travels

Abstract

Web 2.0 is an internet technology that facilitates collaboration on the world wide web (WWW). As a direct product of people's freedom of expression, Web 2.0 technology has given birth to a new media – the social media that is redefining the way people collaborate and express themselves. By studying surveys in three specific aspects of its impact—social service, politics, and as a vehicle of misinformation and through content analysis of some online comments—the author argues that social media is capable of transmitting both good and bad information. In the chapter, an illustration of how misinformation through video seemingly travels is also presented.