The web 2.0 is a fairly recent phenomenon used to define “the World Wide Web with an emphasis on social networking, content generated by users and cloud computing”. Slowly, in the past years, this type of web has become part of our daily lives, incorporating itself in our routines.

The first purpose the web 2.0 has in my life is keeping me informed. I like to know about what’s going on in my country and in the world. For this, I visit various local news outlets, such as Endi and Primera Hora. These news outlets also have established profiles in different social media apps that make it easier to see the latest news. However, when I want to see the people’s perspective on local news or any subject, I use Twitter and navigate through the hashtags and key words. This way, I can get news with a more unfiltered approach.

The second use I have for the web 2.0 is for entertainment. For this, I use multiple apps that are based on user generated content, such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. These apps are filled with many videos, memes and other media that make one’s cheeks hurt from laughter. Here is a meme I saw on Twitter that pretty much summarizes this year:

Now, going back to the more productive uses of the web 2.0, the most important use I have for the web 2.0 is that of a learning tool. Last year, I started learning a new language, Italian, and one of the many tools that helped me get immersed in the language was the use of social media and other media outlets. Apart from taking the courses, I started listening to Italian artists, watching Italian films, reading books in Italian, following Italian vloggers on YouTube and on different social media apps like Instagram. By doing this, I started learning vocabulary and culture from native Italians. One of the vloggers I started to follow on YouTube and on Instagram was Lucrezia Oddone. She is an Italian teacher based in Rome, who makes videos about different topics regarding grammar, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle in Italy.

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?? I racconti brevi sono un’ottima soluzione di lettura se volete leggere qualcosa in lingua italiana che non vi sovraccarichi troppo. Ecco alcune raccolte di autori e autrici italiani che vi consiglio: ?? Short stories/novels are a great way to read something in Italian that is not too overwhelming. Here are a few collections by Italian authors I recommend: * “Quel giorno” di Valentina Farinaccio (B1-B2) * “La boutique del mistero” di Dino Buzzati (B2-C1) * “Donne, madonne, mercanti e cavalieri” di Alessandro Barbero (B1-B2) * “Pecore nere” di Ingy Mubiayi, Igiaba Scego, Gabriella Kuruvilla (B1-B2) * “Noi siamo tempesta” di Michela Murgia (B1-B2) * “Se tutte le donne” di Laila Wadia (B1-B2) * “Il caffe? sospeso” di Luciano De Crescenzo (B2-C1) * “Fiabe d’Italia” di Roberto Piumini, Lella Gandini (A2-B1) * “Ragazzi che amano ragazzi” di Piergiorgio Paterlini (B2-C1) * “Gli amori difficili” di Italo Calvino (B2-C1) * “Storie di cani per una bambina” di Dacia Maraini (A1-A2) Trovate altri consigli di libri sul mio canale YouTube! You’ll find more reading suggestions on my YouTube channel! ??? #learnitalianwithlucrezia #italianbooks #italianshortstories

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In this Instagram post, Lucrezia recommends various short stories for students to start reading in Italian.

Here is a video in which Lucrezia walks around the city of Rome and shows the current state of things a few months after the Covid-19 pandemic hit:

The luxury of being able to see a whole different country and its culture from the commodity of my bedroom is incredible. For this and for the other uses I mentioned before, the web 2.0 has become part of my everyday life. I believe these are the positive sides to this phenomenon. Its possibilities are endless. The web 2.0 makes it possible for anybody from anywhere in the world to stay in contact with other human beings and information from any place in the world. Me creating this blog and writing on it, is also possible thanks to the web 2.0.

As always, there are two sides to every story. Because these tools provide such comfort, they can become addictive. For me, imagining a life without the web 2.0 is almost impossible, since it has become a crucial and normal part of my daily routine. However, there are times where I must create balance. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been constrained to use the Internet for most aspects of my life, such as shopping, working, studying and staying in touch with family and friends. Although it has been very useful and helpful in reducing the spread of the virus, at times, I have felt the longing and the necessity of person-to-person interactions. What I mean to say by this is that even if the web 2.0 helps me in many aspects of my life, I can’t forget about the importance of enjoying the world outside of my computer or phone screen.

In short, no one can ignore the essential role the web 2.0 plays in our lives. However, we must create balance, as with everything in life.