Lanier is highly critical of Web 2.0, asserting that the digital hive is growing at the expense of individuality and creativity. He says that one of the downfalls of collective Internet culture is that we rely too much on groupthink. He warns that our financial markets and sites like Wikipedia, Facebook and Twitter are elevating the “wisdom” of mobs and computer algorithms over the intelligence and judgment of individuals.
The New York Times has written pieces on him and he has written lots of op-ed pieces criticizing the “free” aspect of Internet content, which he says ultimately hurts creativity.
407-691-1995, winterparkinstitute@rollins.edu
UPDATE 3-22-10: Lanier was mistakenly listed as founding editor of Wired. The correction has been made above.