MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter; these are just some of the latest forms of digital media that people of all ages are using as a form of expression as well as a way to stay connected to people. If you are not aware of these media forms, you might be living in a hole because they are everywhere and everyone is involving themselves trying to outreach to others through these connections. Great movements are taking place in waves through innovative new ideas connected to digital media. People are signing up to support everything from breast cancer awareness to presidential candidates. This open source culture is a developing way for people to create new paths of each other and create opportunities to better communities, and this is a new concept for many people but youth today has been consumed by this new movement, and yes I do call it a movement. The rise of open source culture has created a novel way of expression though digital forms of media creating inspiration and innovation.

Applications like Facebook and MySpace are open source communities that concentrate on staying connected with people you know or have met. It is entirely user based meaning that in order for the communities to work; members of these communities need to keep supporting the concept by writing blogs, creating groups, and updating statuses. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook created the site with the intentions of creating a networking community for, Harvard the college he was attending. Obviously the site exploded into a world wide phenomenon that almost everyone you know is involved in.  People from all over the world can stay connected with each other, or meet new people through these sites where one has the ability to completely display their life and character on one page. The pages are filled with pictures, thoughts, and personal interests opening up a new way of expressing ones self.

Mizuko Ito explores the concepts of open source culture in his report Living and Learning with New Media: Summary of Findings from the Digital Youth Project. Ito explores the concept of MySpace as a way of expression for today’s youth. He touches on the fact that it creates a learning experience for young people to explore self expression through creating their own profiles (p.25). Everything from glitter graphics to YouTube videos can be posted on a profile; this pertains to a MySpace profile or a Facebook profile. What is it about self expression that is so needed in today’s world? People are constantly finding new was to express themselves, lets face it, we are not living in a world where a tattoo, piercing, or clothing choice is the only way to self-express. The internet makes it possible for innovation to take place and in a simpler way.

In open source culture, one does not need to dye their hair blue and get an awkward tattoo to be different. The ability to display small pieces of who you are and what you are doing has become a much more refined idea. A simple cut and paste of a favorite music video or the joining of a support group can give friends or browsing passer-byes an insight into who you are and what you represent. Through exploring interests of other, we find people to connect with who are most like us and relationships or bonds are formed between people that otherwise would never have met if not for open source culture.

Open source culture is bringing people all over the world together. On April 15, 2009 a historical even took place thanks to one of the most popular and world wide used forms of digital media, YouTube. According to YouTube.com, which is an internet site that allows people all over the world to post videos of pretty much anything, called for professionals and amateur musicians of all ages, locations and instruments to audition for the YouTube Symphony Orchestra by submitting a video performance of a new piece written for the occasion by the renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun. The finalists were then selected by a judging panel comprised of the world's most renowned orchestras. Then the YouTube community, which would be comprised of people all over the world, voted for their favorite instrumentalists. Winners traveled to New York to participate in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra summit, and performed at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. This was a monumental event and the people involved are supporting open source culture and the right for people to expand knowledge and experiences without some company or law sucking the money out your wallet. The symphony was also an innovative way to raise awareness for classical musicians which is a genre of music that is becoming increasingly less popular. Music is one of the most beautiful forms of expression and it should be something that is shared with everyone. The idea of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra was ground-breaking because something like this had never been done through digital media and it really illustrates the possibilities for future generations to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueJcRmfweSM

YouTube allows for people to search thousands of videos of interests, and in doing so people are able to find new areas of interest. It is also a learning tool in which people can learn to play the guitar, speak different languages and learn to dance all in one day for free. Free learning tools? The idea seems almost comedic but the internet has made it possible for people to expand their knowledge through digital media tools such as YouTube where people are offering vast amounts of free knowledge. No, it does not provide you with a four year degree but there are things to learn and explore that are new. People express themselves in all sorts of different ways on YouTube and this form of digital media is an outlet for this expression to take place. At the very least some of these videos are often hilarious and generate attention in the news media. For example there is always the classic presidential candidate song that some young girl is singing that makes top headlines, not to discount the Barack Obama campaigning that actually took place on YouTube.

There are actual movements that are sweeping the nation due to open source culture. Facebook and MySpace create communities of people that support a cause and the people who are involved in the communities pass invitations to support the cause to all of their friends. It is easy to see how easily a support group can grow into thousands of people very quickly. Musician who are trying to break into the industry create MySpace pages and post YouTube videos in order to market themselves and build a fan base. Colbie Caillat, who is a famous break through artist, first came from MySpace. She created her own page and marketed herself and she is now signed to Universal Public. The popularity of Caillat's MySpace profile led her to become the number-one unsigned singer in her genre for four months. Open source culture is opening doors and creating paths for people that might not have had the same opportunities without being involved in a community where self-expression can come at the click of a mouse. Tila Nguyen, also known as Tila Tequila, is another famous pop-celebrity who broke into the reality television scene through MySpace solely because she had the most friends out of anybody else on MySpace. She hosted her own reality televisions show, “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila” and she also wrote a self help book called Hooking Up with Tila Tequila: A Guide to Love, Fame, Happiness, Success, and Being the Life of the Party. Open source culture is galaxy of opportunity just waiting for people to explore new ways to putting themselves out there and getting discovered.  

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