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In the mid-1990s, body modification enthusiasts – a long-ostracized subculture – created an online community that incorporated blogs, dating and wikis. philippe leroyer/flickr

How Facebook – the Wal-Mart of the internet – dismantled online subcultures

Even though Facebook claims to be a global community, its rise has come at the expense of online subcultures for marginalized people, from body modification enthusiasts to drag queens.
Brian Halsey, 'Novem II,' 1981, 8 Color Silkscreen Serigraph

Are we in the midst of a public space crisis?

Many praise the internet as a democratizing force. But with online spaces replacing physical public squares as places for debate, what do we risk losing?
How many stars will you be rated? Stars image via www.shutter.stock.com

The problem with rating people on the new app Peeple

Peeple is getting called the Yelp of rating people. The cofounders say it will be a positive place that turns character into currency. But does it make sense to rate people as we rate restaurants?
There has to be a better way than this. Syda Productions/Shutterstock

Rude comments online are a reality we can’t get away from

Any verbal exchange – whether a scientific panel discussion, lovers quarrelling in a hallway, or the political hard-talk of a live interview – is a very sophisticated human activity. Besides the intricate…
Civil unrest: anonymous comments are being banned from some popular websites - but does it chase away the trolls? Shutterstock

Using real names is just one way of cleaning up online comments

Every day, millions of internet users leave comments on web sites and on social networks covering any topic imaginable. At its very best, commenting fosters a social community of people sharing an interest…

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