Cyberwellness:Commerce and Information

From Cyberwellness

Introduction
Promoting Cyberwellness
Sexual Health
Mind, Body and Spirit
Sharing Perspectives
Social Networking

[edit] Commerce and Information

We are in the midst of an information evolution which is bringing about significant changes in our society. We are shifting from a reliance on government sources and mass media for authoritative information and expert opinion on issues, toward embracing an online environment where people are looking to other sources, i.e., user generated content to gather information, views, and opinions from those directly affected by events.

In a digital TV environment broadcasters ask for peoples views on news items, online newspapers are operating newsblogs to which users are invited to contribute. In addition to the shared space for information exchange and knowledge transfer that has been created by traditional and new media, user generated blogs provide insights into ordinary people's lives. The user generated blogs that are particularly fascinating include, for example, blogs maintained by people in the midst of conflict, e.g., in Iraq or mobloggers caught up in the London bombing incidents.

We are seeing the emergence of more inclusive, democratic systems of information exchange and knowledge augmentation. It is incredibly exciting for adults, but also for children and young people growing up in this emerging participatory society, characterised by the democratisation of information exchange. It is essential to consider how best to safe guard human rights whilst this information revolution unfolds.