Part 6/14:
The internet decentralized communication, shifting from one-to-many broadcast to many-to-many networks. Individuals could not only consume content but also produce and share it freely. Platforms like YouTube exemplify this democratization, enabling niche voices to reach global audiences.
This break from traditional gatekeeping fostered an explosion of ideas but also brought challenges—echo chambers, misinformation, polarization. Society had to grapple with managing information quality in a landscape where gatekeeping was virtually eliminated.