P2P and File Sharing

File sharing involves distributing information online. This information can include music, photos, videos, documents, and much more. People are able to file share via channels such as removable media, centralized servers, web-based documents, and P2P sharing.

P2P sharing, also known as peer-to-peer sharing, involves a centralized location where users can connect to a server and share files with others on the server. One example was Napster. Napster was one of the first big P2P sharing hubs, as “… college students praised [the site] because it enabled them to obtain hit songs without having to buy an entire album” (Choi, 2006). Users were able to share the single songs they craved rather than go out of their way to buy more than they wanted. P2P sharing creates sharing communities online, showing its relation to new media.