Nick Carr: Bebo and Digital Sharecroppers

“This was an interesting article by Nick Carr that popped up in
Google Reader today–it’s about the Bebo acquisition by AOL and how
the founders have been rewarded handsomely, to the tune of $800
million, with diddly squat going to the artists who contributed
site content.

“From the article:

“As for the millions of members who have happily served as
sharecroppers on the Birches’ plantation, they’ll get the
satisfaction of knowing that all the labor they donated to their
‘community’ did indeed create something of tangible value. No doubt
they’re thrilled that the little Bebo plantation, which they’ve
tended so lovingly, is now part of the giant AOL plantation, itself
part of the Time-Warner conglomerate…”

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