Week 3 Topic 1 (a), open architecture

The idea of open architecture is the idea that everybody has the ability to build on what already exists on the internet. People can create their own websites; post their own views on forums etc. The power structure is different to other mediums; the user has control over the production of the sites on the net. They can choose what they write about, and can share their opinions on existing sites. Lister says that ‘there is no attempt here to prescribe how or where such data flows’ (p165) Meaning that the internet is not designed to give messages to the mass media, like the television, newspapers etc, but they all have individual uses and agendas. However, this idea of the internet being a ‘free for all’ could be criticised because of the authority that some websites have over others. For example, large organisations such as the BBC have the ability to promote their website, which means that their site would get a larger audience than an independent one. These messages on these websites therefore reach a larger audience and could result in them being influenced.