Trebor Scholz on The Social Web: A Promise Betrayed?

Very interesting and important and influential work by Trebor Scholz on Web 2.0 as a locus for civil society. Giving is mentioned only once or twice, but sociability, conviviality, conversation, activism, and ownership are key themes. As we live more and more online who will own the platforms and own what we create so passionately? Can we give and give in online communities only to find that someone else has walked off with a three billion dollar check?  Or that the owner is shutting our community down? Are we creating a new commons, or a new Mall of America? Will our online lives remake our society, or just offer us an escape, a surrogate, or simulacrum, for an active life in community with others? Are we dreaming?