Bloggers are now beginning to face the same scrutiny and consequences as traditional media. I find this perfectly normal yet a reflection on the “freedom of internet fallacy” that many believe exists.
The internet is no more free as a media than television or print, its just that the “cost of creation and distribution” is far less than other route of information dissemination. It costs very little to setup a blog, far less than to create a printed media and attempt to distribute it. Therein lies the catch22 for bloggers.
Whereas some may see this as a license to write whatever they want, the truth is that bloggers should be held no less responsible than other writers, whether paid or not, for what they write. Governments, in my opinion, have every right to implement the same rules for organized media vs individuals who setup their own “information sites”.
By no means do I condone draconian controls such as those exercised in countries like China, I am just stating that it must be dealt with equitably, with no more or no less authority placed over blogs than over other websites controlled by paid-media companies.
Bottom line, remember to be careful about what you write and particularly if your words can be taken to injure another.
Sass
2 Comments
I totally agree with your bottom line. Because more and more people start to blog and write whatever they want, especially those who are “famous” among blog audiences, and their articles are neither helpful to other’s life nor inspiring at all.
“Freedom of speech”, has always been a fallacy but still I would argue blogs should not be treated as media companies. Your typical media company has enough resources to present their opinion and hence liability. Your bloggers on the other hand are the opinions of an individual.
I consider most blogs, mine included, not more than public diaries of their owner’s life. Now how different it if I chose to express them vocally, video-ly, or through blogs – I don’t know.