The prediction, in brief:

The Internet has a culture of sharing that is unusual in the private sector. The technology that drives the Internet was largely developed in a voluntary and cooperative manner. The mere fact that it functions is remarkable … An important and difficult question is how to capture the values of cooperation and shared experience in an increasingly commercial Internet … As usage increases and commercial opportunities rise, it will be increasingly difficult to rely on informal rules of netiquette to maintain good citizenship.

Predictor: Keller, James

Prediction, in context:

The 1995 book “Public Access to the Internet,” edited by Brian Kahin and James Keller carries the chapter, “Public Access Issues: An Introduction” by Keller, a research associate and coordinator of the Information Infrastruture Project at Harvard University. He writes:”As the Internet has grown, it has touched an expanding array of communities and institutions. The culture of the Internet is influencing the way these entities and the people in them operate and, in turn, the presence of these newcomers is beginning to challenge the culture of the Internet. The Internet has a culture of sharing that is unusual in the private sector. The technology that drives the Internet was largely developed in a voluntary and cooperative manner. The mere fact that it functions is remarkable … An important and difficult question is how to capture the values of cooperation and shared experience in an increasingly commercial Internet … As usage increases and commercial opportunities rise, it will be increasingly difficult to rely on informal rules of netiquette to maintain good citizenship.”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Community/Culture

Subtopic: Ethics/Values

Name of publication: Public Access to the Internet (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: Public Access Issues: An Introduction

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Pages 39, 40

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne