Ben Huh CEO of The Cheezburger Network [ Video ]
Read Full Interview: LOL Cat King & What Makes Internet Culture Viral at Mashable
Ben Huh is the CEO of The Cheezburger Network, a ring of highly lucrative websites that curate and capitalize on Internet memes and macros. During the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco, he sat down to tell us all about Internet culture, from what makes for a guaranteed flop online to the elements of viral success.
Huh places emphasis on sharing, remixing and giving back as opposed to the top-down dictatorship of content that we typically see in mainstream mass media. Currently, we’re given a very strict code by gatekeepers who tell us what to wear, what to watch, what to listen to and even what to eat. But because of the way Internet culture works — with masses of users deciding what should be considered cool or funny — we get Three Wolf Moon T-shirts, David After Dentist, the Trololo guy and way too much bacon.
But Internet culture isn’t just for the Internet anymore. These days, the intersection between online and mainstream media is increasingly blurring as celebrities jump onto Twitter and TV shows pull meme content into storylines.
But when do ad agencies and movie stars go too far in their attempts to use the web? And when do they hit a sweet spot that satisfies all parties involved? Check out Huh’s thoughts in the video below, and let us know your own opinions in the comments.
