Time Magazine Person of the Year….it’s You!

Time magazine has released their Person of the Year today. So many of the biggest names from around the world were in the running. But in the end, they decided to give it to You. That's right, every person who reads this site, every person who contributes to the user-generated content on the Internet. I would have saved it for 2007, but it comes at a good time. And the truth is, 2007 looks even more promising for You.

The Internet is hotter today than ever. It is in more homes and more places. Twelve years ago, building the first international site for Clinique, one of the team members asked me if Internet access was available in the countries we were targetting. I said, “I think so.” Today, my answer would be much closer to a resounding yes. And not that 14.4 dial up stuff either.

The truth is that user-generated content has been around for a long time, my first forum started in 1994. And of course there were BBSs and MUDs before then (who remembers MUDs!). But it is only now that we really have moved to a more rich user-generated world. I think it is the worldwide part that moved things forward so much. The fact that Internet access is available almost anywhere made it so.

So hats off to all of us, everyone who participates in some way. And if you aren’t participating, why the heck not!

From Lev Grossman, “And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME’s Person of the Year for 2006 is you.”

Some direct links to the story:

• main story
• 15 who matter – really worth a read
• Citizen Journalism

A few other writers have some good insight as well:

• Mashable – good discussion on possibly overhype of YouTube
• Steve Rubel – good overview of the article