Despite the controversy and potential downfalls that living in a media and technology saturated society can cause, the constant development of media and technology provides many benefits as well. New advancements and innovations are created all the time, each time presenting new opportunities and possibilities for consumers. There is no doubt that the rise in media and technology into our every day lives has caused face-to-face communication, the protection of privacy, and the ability to sort out important information from non important information to decline, but it has also allowed society to become more interconnected and to approach life in a new and exciting way. It represents the wave of the future and we should embrace these new developments in a positive way.
One of the most crucial ways in which media and technology have affected our society in the modern day is the evident increase in interconnectedness. We now have the ability to connect and communicate with those both near and far from us through the use of media technologies. There are an abundant amount of platforms to do so, including phone calls, texting, social media, Facetime, email, and so on, therefore giving users choice in the ways they want to connect. These outlets allow us to stay up to date with the lives of our loved ones and to foster communication even when distance is involved. These media technologies drastically minimize physical distance and allow communication and interest to span borders. We tend to take this ease of communication for granted, but it is a major innovation of our time. A large contrast from the childhood of our parents, we can be in constant communication with whoever, wherever within seconds and not even give it a second thought. For instance, my older sisters and I spend the majority of our time in three different states. The oldest is in Chicago, the middle is in Virginia, and I am in Wisconsin. Despite the variation of locations, I am able to talk to my sisters every day and for as long as we pelase. We have a group text message, as well as viewing each others’ social media profiles to view pictures, send messages, etc. With the increase in media technology, it is almost as if my sisters and I are all living under the same roof again. New advancements in media technology keep people linked, up to date, and involved in more than just their surroundings.
A furtherance of the linkage that media technology provides is the voice it allots to users. Anyone with access to media technologies can publicly present their opinions on certain subject matters and even interact with those who share similar viewpoints. Although the abundance of media platforms can make anybody an “author” or “expert” and can dilute the internet with false or insignificant information, it can also integrate the internet with new perspectives and approaches to issues. The power of voice is now distributed across broad populations of users, rather than being concentrated in the hands of a few. Media technologies provide outlets for people to be put into conversation with each other, to voice insight, and maybe even to persuade others to take action on particular issues.Conversation of this sort is crucial for societal growth and for the acknowledgement of issues that may otherwise be overlooked. This broadening of opinion and voice allows for an influx of new information to be placed in front of users, further enhancing our depth of knowledge. Users have the liberty to do what they choose with the information presented, but advanced technologies make it available and easily accessible for all.
Finally, the rapid development of media technologies is immensely beneficial for providing networking opportunities, a service that is of great importance for college students looking for internships or graduates embarking on the job search. Media technologies can put you into communication with people in your field of interest, present applications, and so on. It is not only a tool for socialization, but a tool for networking and paving a career path as well.
Despite the doubts that circulate around the proliferation of media technologies, the role they play in our modern society cannot be ignored. Introducing new opportunities, social techniques, and technological innovations into the world, media technology is a force to be reckoned with.
