SIYUAN YANG
The co-founder of Reddit presented his views on the internet to Brisbane’s Global Café yesterday evening.
Internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian was instrumental in creating the social media platform Reddit where registered members can upload content that can be voted on by other users.
Mr Ohanian believes the Internet is an uncontrolled platform making it difficult to regulate usage and the dissemination of information.
“I think one of the things that we’re all realizing is that the things we have to deal with didn’t exist 10 years ago,” Mr Ohanian said.
“I think one of the things we’ve come away learning is that we have to be craftful about how we build content policy around this. Unfortunately nothing is perfectly fool proof and what we need to do is be much more effective in curbing it.”
Mr Ohanian believes that the appropriate usage of the Internet and other’s technologies is ultimately dependent on user behaviour.
“I think technology helps, but it’s a tool like any other, just as a hammer can help build a home or cause some harm,” Mr Ohanian said.
Although Mr Ohanian is aware of the negative impacts of modern technology, he believes the Internet plays an important role in ensuring success for all.
“Art used to be a binary, you’re either Jay-Z or you’re working it out. But what is now happening is that there is a new pack, where there are people making a living through just making art,” he said.
“You might not be a Michelangelo, making it big in the Sistine Chapel, but you’re making a living doing what you love.”