“Web 2.0,” a term I find thrown around far too often without any thought into what it actually means. But what is it really? I am going to share with you, what I believe, are the common misconceptions most people have as to what it really is.

Definition: Interactive media theory where an infrastructure focusing on content creation, management, and dissemination is built for the user to generate that content in a community framework.

The biggest misunderstanding people seem to have is that Web 2.0 is about web designs and the style of web design. Its really not. Well, in part anyway. In fact, Web 2.0 is actually about the interaction between the website and the user. Its about websites turning away from controlling what users do and see. Its about providing a means for people to communicate and interact with other people.

Perfect examples are Digg or Youtube. Its no longer about, ok, heres our website about our company or product, click here to read this, click here to do this, click here to watch this. No, its about improving the usability and freedom of websites for users. Its about allowing users to control and decide the content of websites. In simpler terms, Web 2.0 is a state of mind whereby people believe in creating a website that allows its users to generate and manage its content. Dynamic websites like YouTube are prime examples of what Web 2.0 is: a website in which its content is generated by the users.

Like I said, Web 2.0 is about offering a service to people that they can control and use the way they want. Not about what the developer wants you to do. Web 2.0 is less about controlling users and more about giving them choices.

The style and ideas surrounding web design is just a result of this new way of thinking about web development and the internet in general.

What are your thoughts about this? What do you think Web 2.0 is? Feel free to leave your comments below.