"Net as a Plantation"

This term is applied by Nicholas Carr in his article, 'The Net is Being Carved Up into Information Plantations'. Referencing the inherently negative associations with plantations, it is a model in which product is made locally (or by few) and is widely distributed from this local source in a way that does not benefit the few original creators. This term summarizes Carr negative take on the way in which information is created and distributed in the internet age, or what Benkler would call the Information Economy. Carr includes three major criticism under this title: a shrinking web, the web serving as a feedback loop, and new media using old patterns.


 * Shrinking Web: Carr does not mean that the web is literally shrinking. There are not less domains, there as actually been a 75% expansion in the number of domains there are online.  Carr is talking about how larger sites are receiving more traffic, while smaller ones are getting less traffic.  In 2001 the Top Ten sites were receiving 31% of the total viewership of websites.  (Carr is mainly criticizing the consolidation of everything and the corporate aspect that has emerged online).


 * Web as a giant feedback loop: This is in regards to the popularity algorithm that is being used to keep top sites up.  There is no more equal access to information due to money and popularity.


 * New Media, using Old Patters: This is in regards to the accusation of sites by conglomerates. Examples of this is how NewsCorp bought MySpace and Comcast plans to buy NBC.

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