With the proliferation of the Internet and other technological advances, there has been a development of new media technologies. Terry Flew noted that new media technologies have had strong impacts in social, economic, cultural and political environments, and therefore these technologies should be understood from multiple perspectives.
By this, Flew argues that if used incorrectly, new media technologies have the potential to disrupt social equilibrium. For example, Lyon (in Flew. 2005, 22) noted that new media technologies could lead to economic dualism, deskilling of middle classes, job loss to IT, increased job insecurity, "Big Brother" surveillance and information control, and heightened inequalities between 'have' and 'have-not' nations, leading to cultural imperialism.
Lyon's take on what the Information Society could develop into highlights that there is an over-reliance on technology, and as a people, we have started a trend of social fragmentation, leading to a loss of community.
While these negative images paint a dark 1984-esque portrait of what this new era could bring, I agree with Flew's latter argument, that when used correctly, and responsibily (like all good things), new media technologies hold the potential to improve our society.
An increase in access to technological hardware and software could spawn a more skilled workforce, flatten social and corporate hierarchies, empower consumers, increase leisure time, and facilitate a two-way decentralised communications infrastructure.
This potential for advancement has in some cases already resulted in a "Global Village" - decreasing geographical, social, and economic barriers. Further, it would prompt and facilitate the 'have-not' nations to become on par with their advancing peers. This would allow for enourmous expansion in open access to extensive information.
I feel that as a citizen of the Information Society, we are all as individuals, responsible for the uses and ramifications of new technologies. The Internet, cable television, mobile phones, instant messaging, networked communication, whatever our choice of technology, if used correctly, has the potential to enrich and develop our culture and our lives. Therefore, like the Apple Macintosh commercial, new media technologies depend on the initiative of the individual to self-govern in a decentralised, loosely-controlled, almost-borderless environment.
Reference:
Flew, T. 2005. New media: an introduction. Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
1 comment:
I agree to some degree with the argument you put forth concerning the potential of new media technologies. There is certainly a defining line between the supporters and opponents of the new media technology debate.
On the other hand, I disagree with your point on the success of self-governing initiatives. As citizens of the Information Age, we are unable to control the consequences and uses of new media technology. Even though there is a new dependence on self-governing initiatives, the decentralised and uncontrolled new media technology environment is often beyond our control. It has the power and critical ability to disrupt our social environment and equilibrium if it is used incorrectly (Flew 2005, 22).
New media technologies are everywhere in our daily lives and provides users with critical information about our world (Livingstone 2005, 10). In recent times, the introduction of new media technologies has sparked discussion into regulation, government intervention, new patterns of control, privacy issues, Intellectual Property (IP) and other issues (Livingstone 2005, 10). There are still several questions that need to be answered about new media technologies and convergence culture.
Anxieties and negatives surrounding the introduction of new media technologies and convergence of media have created concerns of the effects of media on audiences (Livingstone 2005, 14). People within society often tend to blame the media for the social problems such as crime, violence, rebellion, family breakdown and political apathy and this is why audiences have been so controversial over the years. It is a topic of interest for those interested in media due to the mixed attitudes and beliefs surrounding new media technologies, convergence and the media effects debate.
References
Flew, T. 2005. New media: An introduction. Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
Livingstone, S. 2005. Media audiences, interpreters and users. In Media audiences, ed. M. Gillespie, 10-50. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
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