The Cult of the Amateur

Andrew Keen’s book ‘The Cult of the Amateur’, about the growth of blogging and social networking, claims that ‘the democratisation of the digital world is destroying our economy, our culture and our values’. I would argue against these opinions strongly.

First, the internet is actually stimulating our economy in a hugely exciting way. This Christmas will be a record year for spending online, with £13.6bn predicted to be spent online between October 1st and Christmas Day (The Forrester Report). The UK is now the largest market in Europe for online shopping. Online businesses are being set up every day. The online revolution is actively contributing to our economy. Keen uses the example of the music industry’s decline to support his argument. In fact, the music industry's reticence in embracing the digital age and new business models was the cause of its downfall. Experiments such as Radiohead’s ‘honesty box’ approach for downloading their new album seem to be paying off, music industry executives were just too short sighted to see it.

Secondly, the internet is adding to our culture, not detracting from it. Keen argues the lack of control over the internet is allowing our culture to be diluted by mediocre amateurs. Culture is not like fruit squash, it cannot be diluted. The most successful blogs are a phenomenon and add to our culture, by allowing publishing companies to discover new talent cheaply e.g. ‘Wife in the North’.

Finally, Keen argues our values are being compromised. He says the internet is undermining truth. Truth has always been a slippery concept and traditional media are no less immune to accusations of lies and deceit than the internet. The internet gives people choices; the choice to form their own opinions, to contribute to the debate and to criticise. This is not undermining our values in anyway, just exploring them.