ABSTRACT
The internet driven information revolution is frequently cited as one of the key factors (re)shaping contemporary society. Within wider social changes, the core of this revolution is a fundamental expansion of individual consumer access to information resources. For some consumers accessing the internet is about gathering a library of data to challenge professionals, for others the internet facilitates reflection on professional advice, or as their primary information source for professional reflection, while for others it is a communal discussion space to explore alternative service solutions. Across the virtual spaces of the internet, consumers face comparable choices and challenges. For consumers the breadth of informational resources available on the internet creates an unprecedented space for comparison. The space for community is also the space for anxiety, the space for comparison is also the space for ambiguity, and the space for confidence is also the space for alienation.
