A succinct definition of web2.0

"Web 2.0, a phrase popularized by conference organizer Tim O'Reilly, refers to the current generation of Web sites that seek to turn viewers into contributors by giving them tools to write, post, comment and upload their own creative work."

This nice definition comes from a Reuters article which reports that participation in online communities is lower than expected. It does not speculate why this may be.

Low participation could be due to the fact that there is a high barrier to community contribution - making a video, writing a blog post, even taking and uploading a picture takes creativity and, above all, time. Tipping provides a simple and easy alternative way to contribute to your community.

(originally posted August 28, 2007)