As was demonstrated in the "Authenticity on the Tube" clip as the YouTube phenomenon has changed who gets to speak and how they do it. As we look at language and technology it is important to point out that the "power of the pulpit" or who gets the opportunity to speak has been a part of language from the very beginning. Thanks to Youtube that power appears to be shifting and no where is this shift seen more dramatically then in the political realm. As part of the current election process YouTube users have been able to participate in major political debates by posting videos of questions that the candidates were then able to respond to on a televised program. Of course the producers of the debate were able to choose which questions were asked, but the impact of ordinary people getting the chance to ask major political figures questions has seemed to be empowering. In the past such debates were directed by an individual, usually a person associated with politics or news, who would read a collections of predetermined questions from cards. In contrast when YouTube subscribers were allowed to participate the fact that ordinary people were asking the questions changed the feel of the debate. The questions may have been the same, but to see a regular person asking the question created a more powerful connection for many viewers of the debate.
As we look at the influence of technology on language the power of who gets to speak should be one of the key perspectives we use to evaluate its impact on general culture.
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The internet has really flipped the political realm upside down. An example is presidential candidate Ron Paul. The older generation is behind on using the internet so has never really heard of him. On the internet polls he has managed to outdo all other candidates. But his actual chance of winning looks bleak. I think if it were a couple years from now, where internet grows up with the generations, he would have had a different chance.
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