A couple of recent articles on the New York Times website seem to contradict one another.
“Cat-and-Mouse for a Trashy Trailer”, published on February 24, laments the spread of explicit movie trailers across the internet.
Another piece, published days earlier, examines just the opposite situation.
In “WhoseTube?” OK Go’s lead singer explains why his band’s music videos have trouble escaping the hallowed Walls of Google.
While seemingly at odds, the the two articles together actually represent all that is wrong with the modern internet.
Everyone’s favourite unregulated online space has been invaded by buck-thirsty business interests. These aliens from another market have cast matters of no profit like artistry and good taste aside.
The result is an online media culture that’s evolving almost by accident, shaped not by social activity – as you might expect in a social media climate – but by what best suits the general ledger. Continue reading
