Survey Says: New gTLDs Pointless, Complicate Matters & Not Improve The Web
June 11, No CommentsAccording to Future Laboratory and Gandi.net, most (two thirds) of web users feel that a .anything domain will infiltrate the web with futile domain names such as .god.
Since ICANN made the announcement last October that would allow any organization in 2012 with $185,000 to apply for a generic domain—speculation has stirred the internet community.
The liberalization of domain names was suggested to encourage diversity but is clearly creating much apprehension instead. According to Tom Savigar of the Future Laboratory, the change is seen as being “a daunting change to the internet.”
The exact numbers indicate that of the 1,000 people who were polled:
- 65% believe the changes would cause pointless domain names to bombard the web
- 60% didn’t feel it would improve the web
- 46% feel it would complicate things
Some web users (18%) think ICANN should be responsible for leading the new look while another 18% think it should be left to the website hosting companies. Another 13% would give it to the UK government and 12% say leave it up to society.
Other opinions foresee future improvements. Joe White, Chief operating officer of Gandi.net claims “The current plans for liberalization reflect a great opportunity to get the domain space in order. ICANN now has the opportunity to set clear guidelines and enforce a higher standard of practice with new TLDs so they are not littered with spam and faulty extensions. This could be the beginning of the great clear-up of the future internet.”
As for the estimated two thirds of the population that is unaware, ignorance is bliss.
Source: The Guardian and London South East.
