For those of you who don’t know, actor Stephen Fry is an avid user of social media (notably blogs and Twitter). In this YouTube clip he discusses his thoughts on why it’s a valuable means of connecting with one another. He also frames the discussion more widely, referencing similar innovations over history that were met with similar arguments by critics and yet proved to be highly influential and valuable in their own right.

Personally I think this clip is a great overview on social media, and is therefore worth sharing with people new to the ecosystem. That said, I’m not sure if the person who uploaded the clip is the owner, or if it’s possible that the clip will eventually be taken down – which I sincerely hope does not happen. Regardless it’s worth a look because I think Fry makes a pretty compelling case in his usual highly articulate and intellectual way.