One of the most discussed "communications/computer technology impacts society" issues in 2005 main stream media was undoubtedly blogging, and the related read-write web topics of Web2.0, podcasts, vlogs, and tagging. Shel Israel predicts that the topic of 2006 will be Open Source.

9. The technology issue most discussed will no longer be the blog, but open source and its impact or disappointment on technology development o all levels everywhere.
-- Shel Israel "10 More 2006 Predictions"

I think one caveat to this is to consider the circle of conversation to which you're pointing. Is it main stream media in the main, or just the technology snippet that is often thrown out to prove they're cool? The majority of people don't have a blog, don't understand what makes a blog different from any other web site, and don't see any of the social networking or consumer-as-producer, read-write web, semantic web, Web2.0, etc. stuff having an impact on their life yet. I think that the same applies to open source software, content, intellectual un-property and other open movements. But they will.

Miss Rogue discovered this over the holidays.

Over dinner tonight with my parents, there was a little lightbulb moment for both of us... For me, it was, "Gee, otherwise, nobody in the real world gives a shit about open source, social networks and my so-called life online stuff." Even my parents, who I would think would be fascinated by it. Ha.
-- Tara Hunt "The Trouble with Normal"

Societal and behavioral changes take decades, if not generations, to become fully ingrained; be it the roads and aqueducts of the Romans, the telegraph, telephone, radio, railroad and automotive technologies that ushered in the 20th century, or the command, control, communications, computation and intelligence technologies that are ushering in this century.

But I'm very glad to see Shel recognize the importance of Open Source. As Web2.0 and Open Source become better defined by the early adopters, and as these philosophies resolve real business and personal issues, we'll see the resulting technologies, behavior and business models become integrated into the daily lives of the main stream.

But let's all try to have fun as we work towards that goal.