Web 1.0 was invented to allow physicists to share research papers.
Web 2.0 was created to allow people to share pictures of cute cats.
therefore…
Based on my experience, I’d offer the hypothesis that any sufficiently advanced read/write technology will get used for two purposes: pornography and activism. Porn is a weak test for the success of participatory media—it’s like tapping a mike and asking, “Is it on?” If you’re not getting porn in your system, it doesn’t work. Activism is a stronger test—if activists are using your tools, it’s a pretty good indication that your tools are useful and usable.
Ethan Zuckerman’s The Cute Cat Theory Talk at ETech