New Media Technologies and Its Role in the Perception of the Internet

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Socioeconomic Impact within our Society
Consequences of New Media on the Global Economy
Importance of Understanding the Impact of New Media Technology
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The way consumers access information, news and communicate has been greatly changed by the emergence of web 2.0 technologies which incorporate user-generated content and streamlined web design. New media technologies have enhanced users’ active role in communication and information and changed people’s perception of the internet.

The new media involve the convergence of media and technology; it is the replacement of analogue technology with the digital one. New media encompass the internet, new video and audio recording, the mobile media and computer gaming (USAID, 2008).

Primarily, the functions of the new media were only restricted to entertainment and communication sector but with the advent of new media technology there has been a widespread impact on social, economic and political spheres of human life (Berger, 2007). New media technology is defined as any kind of application that is used to transfer information through digital technology. It is interactive and can be transferred by placing it in a compressed data that can be accessed in several markets.

The conclusion expounds on digital divide which is a common phenomenon in the digital technology age and seeks to analyze why does the difference occurs, its causes and its effects, whether long-term or short-term. Digital divide is understood as the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic regions concerning their opportunities to access to information and communication technologies (Hassan & Thomas, 2006).

The thesis argument is based on this quote, “with the convergence of the telecommunication, media, and computer industries we are now entering a new phase of media development” (USAID, 2008. P.10).

This thesis seeks to explain the idea that digital technologies have in the past and succeeding years transformed our world; it explains how new media have informationalised the society. The thesis seeks to justify the fact that the world is undergoing through a technological, cultural, political and economic phase of change that is brought about by the new media.

Socioeconomic Impact within our Society

A good innovation must be beneficial to the society; it should create room for the following: facilitate change, allow for adaptability, have connection to realization of personal goals, fulfilling of individual activities and careers and it should enhance lifelong learning. The new media technology has both social and economic impact on the contemporary society.

The invention of the World Wide Web (WWW) is considered the turning point of new media technology revolution. World Wide Web is used to transmit information over the computer and it has emerged as a very important tool of communication used in schools, by governments, by companies and almost in every social institution.

The new media technology has revolutionized communication since people use the web to communicate, that is, the web is used to distribute information; it is also used as a basis of interaction (Bucy, 2005).

New media technology is a key component of business. The web for example is used by the banking industry to serve their customers online. The virtual cash which is a creation of modern media has enhanced the promotional market and hence an actual market for trade. New media have also revolutionized education. The academic achievements of the students have improved due to the use of technology.

New media has led to the death of distance. Distance has been eliminated as a factor in communication. The bonding between people working in different parts of the world has been strengthened by enhanced communication brought about by new media. Through the new media, new information and ideas travel faster to all parts of the world.

People have access to knowledge and it also enables people to acquire new skills. The convergence of media into internet devices like mobile phones and computers is an indication that people are consuming information and interacting with the news, broadcasts and the entertainment media.

New media have united people of all walks of life through social networking sites, wikis and blogs. These have altered the way people interact in the society. The younger generation has for example adopted different various ways of learning and sharing information. Consequently, new media have revolutionized the political sphere of the society.

People can share information and ideas through the new media with anonymity. Freedom of expression has been expanded by the new media. This is whereby people have had their rights in criticizing political, educational and religious sectors (Berger, 2007).

Negatively the media has led to the invasion of societal and individual privacy. Pictures and statements which are online can be copied for redistribution. This requires the consumers to take precautions when using digital technology by making their secret codes confidential.

There is increase in the population of people with access to internet. This has enabled them to acquire new skills that are needed in order to participate in online based activities which are an indication of increasing social and political involvement.

Consequently, the intensification of internet-oriented activism by the use of digital technology has strengthened the role of civil society hence underpinning the potentiality of new media being used as a democratic instrument. Video games have also been used to influence the social attitudes of the people. It has been used as a popular tool by social activists to raise awareness about social issues facing the society (Larabie, 2011).

Consequences of New Media on the Global Economy

Location and distance is no longer considered a factor in business decisions. Various business and companies, with the advent of new media are able to organize their shifts based on specific time zones.

Companies, through the internet can locate any screen-based activity in any place around the world; they may also get the best skills and productivity around the world. By utilizing the new media technology, companies can transact and perform their duties, for instance, monitoring of stock exchange rate, monitoring the security systems online and the running of call centers which is done online.

Through the new media, small companies have managed to provide services and goods or to perform business operations which were the preserve of big companies. Consequently, companies and consumers can have access to accurate information about prices in international market. This is necessary to curb inflation and to enhance competition on the international market (Bucy, 2005).

New media technologies have influenced the way firms are managed and firm’s organizational strategy. This has prompted the adoption of new models. The global economy has been particularly affected by internet, intranet and video conferencing. With the advent of new media, several companies use websites to sell their products.

Importance of Understanding the Impact of New Media Technology

The impacts of new media technology is relevant in the sense that it affects the economic, social, political, and cultural spheres of human life. New media technology is dynamic and people may not have all instruments of new media or they may have them but may not have the capacity to use them.

Digital divide is a term used to describe the difference between people who use the new media and those who do not access the new media technologies. Understanding new media technology is necessary since there are various aspects of new media and there exists several contentious issues in the new media debate like matters of policy (Bucy, 2005).

This argument is reinforced by the associational mode theory of communication. This is a situation where parties in a communication state are attached to a particular group and a specific media based on their shared beliefs (Anon., 2011).

Conclusion

Digital divide is a common phenomenon in the digital technology era. Digital divide can exist between individuals, countries or cities. It may depend on factors like economic class, education level and the industrial capacity in case of states. Digital divide is a reflection of existing difference between countries.

The gap between accessibility and use of latest information and communication technologies is increasingly and alarmingly widening. This is due to the desire of human beings to fully satisfy their basic needs, limited or lack of computer knowledge by some people and also unavailability of funds.

In five to 25 years, the narrowing of the digital divide will not have been realized fully. It is acknowledgeable that the gap keeps narrowing with increasing years; this is because the factors responsible for widening the divide are being met at a slower rate. These factors include: the continued expansion of internet access, limited income, age, geographical location and the type of the household.

Various governments’ believe that information is power and hence they are motivated to increase access to information and communication technology for their citizens. There is for governments to invest more in the new media technologies because as the wave of globalization intensifies new media technology are absolutely taking over the interaction of everyday activities.

References

Anon. (2011). Media theory and theorists. Web.

Berger, A.A. (2007). Media and society: a critical perspective (2^nd ed). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield.

Bucy, E. (2005). Living in the information age: A new media reader (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Hassan, R & Thomas, J. (2006). The new media theory reader. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill International.

Larabie, C. (2011). Editorial: A Reflection on the role of new media: From Peer-to-Peer to Protest. The McMaster Journal of Communication, 7(1), pp. 1-10. Web.

USAID. (2008). New media and international media development. Pustaka. Web.

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