When it comes to interactivity in web media, I'd like to make the argument that nearly everything successful in today's Western society, on the web, has some kind of interactive aspect to it. 

We've gone past the point where just looking at something is enough, if we like something we aren't satisfied with knowing that anymore - we need other people to know it too. Facebook added a like button, tumblr runs off of like buttons, and comments have been enabled on almost everything on the internet. Do we really have so much to say that we need to have the option to vent our angst ridden feelings to the world? That seems what Youtube has become. 

Youtube is a great example of interactivity and fan culture on the web. Youtube 'celebrities' were once regular people, but through gathering millions of subscribers they have build an online fan base that even the most famous movie stars can't boast about. Although many people complain about it, including myself, the written comments on Youtube have created an entirely new form of blog on its own. People may begin by discussing things relevant to the video but it will stem off and turn into a debate about religion. 

The connection Youtubers have with their audience is uncanny. From a single video  tens and even hundreds of succeeding videos are often made in response to it, to parody it, or just to get a few views to see if fame can be challenged and won. 

The growing interaction of everything on the internet has left us with short attention spans - always wanting to be engaged with something more all the time. Websites such as The Ugly Dance and others similar offer the audience to create something of their own in return for some of their time in order to showcase a product. It's becoming so easy to integrate marketing and advertising in once ordinary things, and because we as a society are so starved to have some bit of 'social' interaction we will just at the chance. 

I love how far much the web has grown, and how involved everyone has become in it - and I am by no means advocating that we should go backwards and forget how far we've come, but I think that people should be wary and more careful of how they are using the interactive features, and try to better the world with them. In the United States they are currently undergoing one of the fiercest battles against control of the internet, and unless the users of these interactive platforms take a stand, the web as we know it could change drastically in the next decade. 

We value being able to express our opinions, create and share content and interact with people from all over the world - but in order to keep this and progress we need to keep our internet safe and free. Watch this video and spread the word to any Americans that you may know!