Media (NEW MEDIA)
What is new media?
New media refers to digital tech used for consumption and distribution of new media content. These include tablets, smartphones, digital TV, E-books and more.
Technological Convergence
Traditional media had different devices for different content, new media has convergence where single device combines media technologies (e.g. smartphones allow you to make calls, read books, read the news, take photos etc).
JENKINS - technological convergence
Argues that tech convergence brings cultural convergence, where consumers are encouraged to seek and share new info and make connections between content from range of media, to contribute to participatory culture.
Characteristics of new media
- Digitality (being digital rather than analogue).
- Interactivity (consumers
contribute to participatory culture and a collective intelligence).
- Hypertextuality (links between media forms web of connections).
- Dispersal (new media become less central and has adapted to individual choices)
- Virtuality (people can immerse in unreal interactive experiences in a virtual world)
Social class differences in the use of new media
Evidence of digital divide between the information-rich digital haves, and the poor-digital have-nots.
Helsper - 'digital underclass' forming in Britain, those with lower education fall behind others in access to internet.
Age differences in use of new media
Generation gap in users of new media.
Boyle - younger people grown up with the latest new media and are predisposed to it, they are more likely to consume varied media forms.
Gender difference in uses of new media
Males and females both use new media, but consume different. Eg, men likely to own tablets and game consoles, women likely to own E-readers.
Li and Kirkup - men more likely to have positive attitude to internet, spend more time on it and more confident in using it.
Cultural optimist/ neophilliac view.
New media is good.
1) More informed consumers, wide choice and partivipation.
2) Greater democracy (McNair, info is power, know who vote for).
3) Information access.
4) Global village (collapsed barriers in communication, culture).
5) Social interaction/life enhancement (Postmodernists see diversity, culture and identity sharing).
Cultural Pessimist view.
New media is bad:
1) Lack of valid info.
2) Cultural and media imperialism (western tech imposed onto other cultures).
3) Threat to democracy (MacKinnon, corporations - eg, Apple -have as much power as gov, choice in media output).
4) Lack of regulation (porn, cyber crime, cyberbullying, drug smuggling thrive).
5) Lack of consumer choice (digital divide, some people cant access what they want).
6) Increased surveillance (increased control, can track phones).
7) Undermining human relationships (social isolation, losing ability to communicate, loss of social capital).