Internet Organization

Many of the ways the internet has impacted society have been unanticipated both by creators and users. I believe that we have an opportunity to learn from previous examples and use the tools of the internet to intentionally influence the world. "Here Comes Everybody" by Clay Shirky explains the influence the internet has had on society. Specifically, it explains how groups can be organized without a governing structure, and how these groups can accomplish more because they aren't limited by procedure. Several real-life examples illustrate these changes; in each case, an organization was formed using one or more internet services, and some kind of social movement or change occurred. Most creators of such services did not anticipate the scale or scope of influence they could have, but the power of millions of voices using those services allowed groups to interact with each other in entirely new ways. Each new social tool has led to discoveries of not only the potential influence of groups, but also in how the use of these tools can help provide that influence. Those with specific causes can follow these examples, using the tool that will be most effective in their case. Not all of these endeavors will be successful, but the more the internet is used, the better we can learn to harness its power.