New Media

• New media is media that is transmitted digitally
• Traditionally media was analogue and one way; the audience would receive media but could not interact with it - they were passive
• New media includes video games, social media, and streaming
• Some traditional media has declined due to new media; some has moved to be digital only as a result
• Boyle - convergence - a single device allows users to carry out many aspects of their lives
• Interactivity - people are no longer passive recipients of the media but can engage with it, comment on it, and even create it
• Accessibility - information is far easier to access, including global issues
• Collective intelligence - individuals pool knowledge and can research easily, but now people may not trust experts
• There is now a digital divide between digital natives who grew up with new media, and those who grew up with traditional media
• Boyle says digital natives have grown up in a culture that emphasises immediate gratification
• Some people have limited access to the internet, and are classified as part of the digital underclass
• Ability to pay bills apply for benefits are increasingly moving online which further disadvantages some people
• When education moved online during the pandemic, many children were excluded due to no internet access at home
• New media allows users to have greater consumer choice
• Online commerce means it may be easier for some people to run businesses. However, it may negatively impact small businesses in-person if bigger companies are more convenient
• There's been a growth in online activism and petitions, which helps democracy
• Some people say content has been dumbed down with an emphasis on quantity over quality
• Others might argue the dumbing down argument is cultural elitism by acting that certain media is automatically better than mass media
• There is an increasing amount of misinformation and fake news that makes people distrustful
• New media has brought about negative interaction like trolling, cyberbullying and cancel culture
• Huge companies like Google have enough influence to sway public opinion
• New media is owned both by the individuals that create content and the owners who control the platforms it's hosted on
• Tech giants simultaneously host and produce content, as well as supplying devices to access it
• Traditional media companies have also expanded into new media - eg Disney with streaming services and video games
• Many new media outlets start out independent but quickly get bought out by bigger companies
• Some governments ban access to new media for censorship purposes eg China
• It is increasingly difficult to regulate individual content
• Keen says the media is impossible to control due to its global nature
• Internet service providers are required by law to make adult content an opt-in
• Some uses of new media can be prosecuted but the laws that do so are often outdated
• Many people have been prosecuted for 'leaking' information to the public via new media
• Increasing issues of privacy or the lack thereof online
• Curran and Seaton identified two perspectives on the impact of new media: cultural pessimists and neophiliacs
• Neophiliacs see new media as a revolutionary force for positive change
• People are no longer limited to the media in their country or shops in their local town
• The digital marketplace is much more competitive as it is far easier to compare services and there are less restrictions on where you can go
• People are now able to leave reviews that are easily accessed, meaning companies must work harder to ensure positive reviews
• However there is rarely verification for truthful reviews so some platforms may create fake reviews for themself, while small businesses can be ruined by one bad review
• There is a growing support network of help for people who need it, from basic questions to serious mental health issues
• Social activism like the BLM movement or #MeToo allow people to raise awareness about important issues