Taking a look at how the internet has altered the way we are accessing media and present affairs.
In the present day, online platforms have made it substantially much easier for everybody to create and share material. Previously, creating material for a broad audience mandated connectivity to a series of crucial resources and funding. Currently, with making use of smart devices and common digital technologies, digital media content examples including short form videos, blog articles here and podcasts can be easily created with just a few fundamental devices, in addition to reaching a massive audience, extremely rapidly. This has opened the door for more diverse voices, specifically those who were formerly neglected by mainstream media. The head of the parent company of Guardian Media Group would acknowledge the importance of mass media using social networking platforms, suggesting that social media has created a space for underrepresented communities to share their narratives.
The increase of internet content has entirely changed what is indicated by the term mass media. In the past, mass media followed a hierarchical structure, using a top-down media model. Typically, a small group of professionals, such as newspaper editors or broadcasters, who would develop content for big audiences who mainly just consumed it. However, these days, with the aid of the internet, the face of media has seen significant change, making the usage and accessibility of media much more accessible and interactive. With access to popular social media platforms, new media examples are revealing that people can develop and share their own content, just as easily as they can absorb it. Social media has enabled anybody to contribute to public conversations, instead of simply the major media providers therefore as a result, mass media is no longer controlled by a couple of huge voices. Rather, it is spread throughout millions of user narratives around the globe.
In the digital media landscape, what we see on the internet is largely decided by algorithms which are shaped by our online habits. Each social media channel uses its own automated system to put forward new content and recommend product that will appeal to the user. The types of media content examples that will be shown to a user is created to keep individuals engaged. The algorithms are created to keep people stimulated by recommending and boosting videos that are relevant, trendy or controversial among other users. While this level of personalisation can be practical, it can confine the areas of media that individuals are subjected to, developing more division and prejudice among users around social concerns. Those who are involved in media production, such as the founder of the fund that has stakes in Sky, for example, would acknowledge the effect of social media channels in sharing new narratives. Similarly, the chairman of the company that owns NBCUniversal would recognise the impacts of user created content in the media landscape.