Ask your parents what comes to mind when they think of the internet.  You’re likely to hear responses such as news, e-mail, and perhaps message boards.  Ask a child or teen, however, and you’re likely to get a different answer: videos, instant messaging, blogs, photos, social news, and social networking.

The difference in their answers indicates the drastic shift the internet has taken over the past ten years.  The internet—once a place for stuffy research papers, then for plain-text content—is now a rapidly expanding community of users.  The web of today is certainly less formal and it focuses far more on the individual’s contributions and group dynamics than ever before.  This is what we call “Interactivity Online.”

This topic is particularly relevant as the web becomes so integral in our lives.  As children, teenagers, or young adults, we will all live with the consequences and developments of the new, social internet.  We are the first generation to grow up with the internet, and it’s affecting how we socialize and connect with others.  It is therefore increasingly important to understand the origins of MySpace or the worldwide effect YouTube, since these are the types of sites that in many ways shape our lives today and will influence us all for years to come.

In addition, we recognize that if you are visiting this site, you are likely more interested in the internet and computers than the average user.  This site also explores the construction of one of these social sites, showing you how these sites actually run and providing you with the basic background to begin expanding your own abilities.

So whether you’re interested in the history of this phenomenon, you are curious and want to know how it works, or you have aspirations to become the next Web 2.0 entrepreneur, we encourage you to read our site, an Introduction to Interactivity Online.