You know that old saying about personal opinions, right? Yes, everybody’s got one. And with all the user review sites, the blogosphere, Facebook, Twitter and such out there on the internet, personal opinions are more readily available (and possibly just as stinky) than ever. Of course, there are benefits to being able to read the thoughts of others about, well, pretty much anything that someone can actually have an opinion about.
Need the low down on a decent pub or restaurant in an area you’re not familiar with? Want to see what former students thought of a professor whose course you’re about to take? Is that blockbuster Hollywood movie really worth checking out? Thinking about blowing a sizeable chunk of money of some shiny new gadget? Yep, there’s an app or site for such ponderous considerations with plenty of passionate accounts of whatever you’re seeking reviews or opinions about.
As far as I can tell, the “growing power of online reviews” will continue to increase more and more for yet some time to come. I reckon it’s a good thing as long as people can still from time to time unglue their eyes from their monitors and mobile screens and simply rely on chance, instinct and the advice of real flesh and blood friends and neighbours.
Being able to share opinions online gives the disgruntled as well as the delighted a voice. With all its potential flaws, social media as a means of review is still an incredibly democratic way to broadcast one’s message and can help lots of people better navigate the world. A universe of opinions merely a click or so away – handy (if sometimes overwhelming) … and like it or not online reviews are definitely here to stay for a long, long time.
