This week a debate I attended, held by Carole Stone of YouGovStone, asked the question who has the most influence: Google or Murdoch. Apples and Pears of course;  but it made for a fascinating discussion.

At the end of the debate we were asked, who influences us now? Then; who will influence us in ten years time?  I think the real question is who is influencing our children now? Then; who will influence our children in ten years time.

Before leaving the house my teenage son asked where I was going. I told him about the debate. He asked me if I had ever heard of Phillip DeFranca. I had not.

I had enough to to get online and find out about him. He he is young man who web-cats for three minutes a day on gobal current affairs. He gets between 500,000 and four million views and his influence amongst the 14 to 19-year-old age group is huge.

Few of those at the debate will have heard of him and, although he reaches people through YouTube, I do not believe it is Google who has the influence it is Phil DeFranca. As we move forward the power of individual will increase. If you want to know who is going to be the biggest influence in our lives, try looking over the shoulder of your teenagers as they scour the internet. That is where the answer is.

Tags: Add new tag, Google, Rupert Murdoch, YouGovStone

Wednesday, 11 November 2009 at 18:49