The Cult of the Amateur

In a provocative polemic, Silicon Valley insider Andrew Keen exposes the dire consequences of today's participatory Web 2.0, revealing how it threatens our values, economy, and the innovation that underpins American achievement. He warns that our most valued cultural institutions—newspapers, magazines, music, and movies—are being overwhelmed by an influx of amateur, user-generated content. Advertising revenue is diverted to free classified ads on platforms like Craigslist, while television networks face competition from user-generated programming on sites like YouTube. The music industry is devastated by file-sharing and digital piracy, jeopardizing its future. Keen argues that our 'cut-and-paste' online culture undermines over 200 years of copyright protection, robbing creators of their work's value. In a self-broadcasting culture where anyone can publish opinions, the line between expert and amateur blurs dangerously. Anonymous bloggers and videographers, free from professional standards, can distort public debate and manipulate opinions, commodifying truth. The anonymity of Web 2.0 raises concerns about the reliability of information and allows predators to thrive. While Keen, a pioneer of Internet startups, is not anti-technology, he urges us to consider the implications of a culture that promotes plagiarism and piracy, weakening traditional media. He offers concrete solutions to mitigate the narcissistic atmosphere of the