Due to a highly interesting debate on Twitter, I’d like to recast the spontaneous debate between Mr. Keen and myself regarding the potential use of Web 2.0 technologies.
For the record, Keen does not say that Web 2.0 is doomed to fascism, he says it’s “fucked.” He believes that as economic realities get more dire, fascist elements could seize Web 2.0 as a tool to whip up frenzy. It is not certain that Web 2.0 will lead to fascism, but he believes that social media could be even less democratic than the media used in the pre-web industrial era, media that was dominated and guarded by experts and official sources. His typical argument, well expressed in his books and articles, is that most people on social media can hide behind anonymity, whereas professional sources are incentivized to stay professional and accurate. I am paraphrasing, but his argument seems to be that Web 2.0 risks being seized by fascists, capitalizing on that anonymous, vituperative, snarky spirit in some corners of the Internet to whip up sentiments for nationalism. A provocatively-titled piece in the Daily Beast called The Internet is Bad For You explores this risk.
My retort is that fascism worked much better with few sources of official media, broadcasting owned by central sources and manipulated by the concentrated power of elites in a nationalistic government. While Web 2.0 surely can be used as a tool for fascist elements in society, I think they had a better deal when it was really expensive to own radio and television towers. Web 2.0 allows nearly infinite social networks, and while many of these could be angry, nationalistic, and sympathetic to fascism, the structure of the technology works against its fundamental logic of conformity. Fascism worked well with single arguments, uniforms, flags, and national anthems. Web 2.0 leads more to a giant jumble of micro-niches, groups that only ever really come together to watch clips of British talent shows and similarly democratic events. The rest of the time, it’s herding cats.
Keen is right, though – the real risk is poverty and injustice. Prevent that, and the fascist gangs should remain at bay.
The national pastime is now watching financial indicators reach the lows of the decade. It’s getting boring.