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Reflective Blog - Media Convergence

The merging of different types of technology such as a camera, GPS, television, in a cellphone with access to internet has definitely brought ease to my consumption of media. Being able to find everything I need within one device has made me very dependent on it. I am able to carry an entire library in my back pocket and have access to it anytime over the internet. I must say, it is quite fascinating to think about. Smartphone owners have access to a plethora of information that has not historically existed. I am a voracious reader, researcher, and an avid debater. If someone brings up a topic that I am unfamiliar with, I quickly use my phone to read up on it in order to further my knowledge. On my daily commute to work, I read ebooks on my phone. When I am driving, I either listen to music or podcasts with the help of my phone. When I cook, I turn to following a step by step Youtube video on new recipes. My smartphone allows me to efficiently execute all my daily tasks while maintaining contact with friends and family through text, sharing funny posts on Instagram, and placing phone calls to family members, friends, or colleagues. If I had to carry multiple devices in order to do all of the above, I would probably need to carry several bags with me wherever I went but media convergence has provided me with the opportunity to experience efficiency. My productivity has been augmented exponentially which allows me to fit in more tasks to complete within my day.

Gasher, M., Skinner, D., & Lorimer, R. (2016). Defining the field. In Mass communication in Canada (8th ed.) (pp. 2–31). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.

*Assignment #4 - Reflective Blog*

Did you leave something out?

When I originally looked at media convergence I focused on how different types of tools can be incorporated in one device but I did not specify the challenges that may come along with the advantages. Convenient access to the internet creates more opportunities for inaccurate or misleading information to travel. Furthermore, media circulation becomes harder to track and regulate due to the vast amount of information distributed through the internet. The opportunity cost of easy access to information through the internet is tremendous, ranging from privacy infringement to outright misinformation campaigns that can change the political environment of countries. Therefore, consumers need to understand that although smartphones and other electronic devices can improve their quality of life and productivity, these devices also have indirect potential for causing harm to the consumers or society in general. These downsides, although not advertised by the companies, are being increasingly covered in the news and are helping consumers change their media consumption accordingly (Shade and Lithgow, 2014, p.175-176). 

How has your thought process changed?

I was feeling excited and grateful for having wide ranging access to information/media at my fingertips but once I became more educated on the topic I came to realize that a lot of the material I am exposed to is as a result of algorithms that present me that information as a result of my previous search trends. For example, when I am using Instagram, Facebook, or any other forms of “free” social media, I noticed that their ads are tailored to target me and they entice me to purchase a certain product or service. This makes me feel like my privacy is being sold in return for a “free” social media service and I do not feel comfortable thinking about that reality (Steeves, 2014, p.314). Now that I am aware of my search history being tracked for commercial purposes, it has changed my perspective as I now understand that I am being used by these apps to increase the revenue of a company that I am not consciously willing to deal with. I went from feeling fortunate for having wide ranging access to information in my back pocket to realizing that I practically have someone following me around at all times and watching my every move. 

Do you understand something in a deeper way?

In addition to my thought process shifting direction, I have come to understand in more depth that privacy regulation is not something that is implemented with ease. The European council has a much more formalized process for dealing with this concept compared to Canada as they adopt fair information practices. Although, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Acts (PIPEDA) was established to facilitate the circulation and exchange of information, it illustrates that the government in developed countries do not focus heavily on providing citizens with privacy protection. This is partly due to aggressive lobbying by media giants to gain political influence and prevent strict regulation from impacting their extremely profitable business model. The change towards increased privacy protection is a slow process and news organizations are doing a good job of highlighting the pitfalls in social media platforms (Steeves, 2014, p.315-316). 

How do the concepts from the readings help expand or bring a more complex understanding to your post?

In the article “The Information - How the Internet Gets Inside Us” by Adam Gopnik, the author broke down certain types of internet users; the Never-Betters, the Better-Nevers, and the Ever-Wasers. 

The Never-Betters believe that the internet created a new utopia

The Better-Nevers think that internet should not have been created in the first place

The Ever-Wasers view the internet as a moment of modernization which is thrilling to them

 The author mentioned a phrase that really stuck with me, “Google is the world’s Thurber wife.” People are being replaced by machines and although that may seem exciting to the Ever-Wasers, it may not have the best impact on the community in general. For example, a study in the article mentions how college students show a significant decline in empathy as they lack the ability to try and understand others feelings. Having access to such smart devices originally seemed like a step in the right direction but I am beginning to feel much more cautious rather than excited about using them. I guess I could categorize myself as a Better-Never. (Gopnik, 2011). 

Work Cited

Gopnik, A. (2011). How the Internet Gets Inside Us. [online] The New Yorker. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-information [Accessed 20 Nov. 2019].

Savage, P. (2014). “Audiences are Key,"Mediascapes: New Patterns in Canadian Communication. 4th ed. [ebook] United States of America: Nelson Education Ltd., pp.127-149. Available at: https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780176727413/cfi/146!/4/2@100:0.00 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2019].

Shade, L and Lithgow M. (2014). “Media Ownership, Public Participation, and Democracy in the Canadian Mediascape,” Mediascapes: New Patterns in Canadian Communication,. 4th ed. [ebook] United States of America: Nelson Education Ltd., pp.174–203. Available at: https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780176727413/cfi/3!/4/4@0.00:0.00 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2019].

Steeves, V. (2014). "Privacy in a Networked Environment,” Mediascapes: New Patterns in Canadian Communication,. 4th ed. [ebook] United States of America: Nelson Education Ltd., pp.304 - 320. Available at: https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780176727413/cfi/3!/4/4@0.00:0.00 [Accessed 20 Nov. 2019].

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Canadian-ness or National Belonging

The ability to mass communicate in the Western society has the power to bring a community together and potentially help other communities, such as developing countries. To adopt technological improvements there are five stages; awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, and adopting/rejection. With these steps practiced, a developed country can send a message to a developing country in regards to new ideas.  I feel that within Canada, most people try to stay on top of trends, especially the younger generation. Most interactions are strictly based on things that are posted on social platforms. Such topics are often the easiest way to break the ice when speaking with people who you’ve never met before. I personally feel a strong belongingness within my society for just knowing the same trends and headlines as others. It makes me feel more knowledgable, up to date, and well rounded. Social media can have a great impact on people’s daily lives. For instance, advertisement urged me to switch from plastic straws to metal straws and that was one of the hottest fads in the Summer of 2019. The use of mass communication and media was once used to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS across the world. The same way we have commercials today persuading individuals to live in a more environmentally sustainable manner, or social media posts warning people about the side effects of vaping. Therefore, my interaction with media makes me feel that I belong within the millennial generation while being able to relate to baby boomers as a result of being well informed through political and economic news. My interaction with media also makes me feel safe. For example, within the GTA (Ontario) we have the, “Amber Alert” system that sends out any sort of emergency warning across mass media. 

Chapter 1: “Defining the Field” in Mass Communication in Canada (8th ed.) by Mike Gasher, David Skinner, and Rowland Lorimer, pp. 2–31.

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*Traditional vs New Media*

To expand on my previous point from, “Audiences”, I was raised in Romania which is a part of Europe. I would say that in certain aspects it would be considered a developing country in regards to its political and economic status. It definitely differs from a developed country such as Canada. My main difference in experience between new media and traditional media focuses on the type of technology I was and am now exposed to. In Romania, my source of entertainment, information, and news came from a house radio, books, magazines, newspapers, and occasionally a television. Whereas, in Canada I have been exposed to televisions, computers, tablets, smartphones, etc. from 2004 and onwards. The main difference I notice in my retention of media is that I am less attentive to information being verbally communicated to me. I feel that the ease of researching it at a later hour has taken higher priority compared to retaining that information when I hear about it initially. Although I was younger when I was in Romania, I still felt the need to process and absorb all information shared with me, in my initial exposure to it as I would not have been able to find it later. As a result of technological advancement, new information is easier to store and access, thereby reducing the need to memorize it. The easy access comes with concerns as social media has allowed individuals to create content that may not always be accurate since the content creators’ views may be ill-informed or biased. This is extremely worrisome, even in a political context as we heavily rely on media in order to retrieve our information and ill-informed masses can influence the political environment of a country. With traditional media, I feel as if information is much more accurate and carefully written since it is created and edited by professionals whose careers are bound by ethical codes of journalism. 

Chapter 12: “Mass Communication in a Digital Age” in Mass Communication in Canada (8th ed.) by Mike Gasher, David Skinner, and Rowland Lorimer, pp. 336–361.

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*Audiences*

Audience can take multiple forms such as: viewers, groups, followers, readers, listeners, and/or consumers. They can be categorized based on the type of content they consume such as political, economic, or cultural. Each audience member has their own characteristics, time frame, place, and belief. I consider myself to be a listener and reader. As I’ve explained in my previous posts, I am a millennial that grew up in Romania and moved to Canada at the age of 8. While growing up, I heavily relied on books and radio for information, and rarely watched TV in Europe but my media consumption changed towards digital platforms. I, as an audience member do my research on both economic and political issues. I read and listen to what is happening around me but I do not use the same platforms to create content or comment on existing material. I like being well aware and up to date with issues/concerns in order to feel a sense of belongingness. In a way, I do not want to be judged for lack of knowledge about topics that affect the society in general. I tend to not share my newfound knowledge or impose my opinion on others. Therefore, I find myself to be a passive audience member. It might have a strong correlation with the fact that I was not raised in a first world society; therefore, I did not pick up on certain habits or practices. Perhaps, if I grew up in Canada instead, I would have become an active audience member that not only attains new information but also forms an opinion on it. 

“Audiences Are Key,” by Philip Savage in Mediascapes: New Patterns in Canadian Communication (4th ed.), pp. 127–149.

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Commercial Interests

The process of incorporating Instagram TV, Facebook, Twitter etc. in my daily routine has made me more politically aware and up to date with latest news and trends. It has impacted my conversations with friends and colleagues as everyone is well informed and is able to contribute to a healthy discussion. Having access to social media platforms has heavily exposed me to advertisement which exposes me to a myriad of social issues. For example, there has been heavy news coverage on turtles ingesting straws or having them get caught in their noses. As a result, entrepreneurs took this opportunity to have enabled their consumers to consume beverages by using metal and paper straws. Many influencers such as Bretman Rock have posted multiple instagram stories and youtube videos about this particular environmental issue. Since I frequently follow these types of influencers, I have been made aware of these environmental concerns which intrigued me to educate myself and change my behaviour. This lead me to purchase my own set of metal straws which I have been using for months. By doing so, I felt that I have contributed towards a global issue which increased my media consumption in regard to similar global concerns. Advertisement could be utilized to increase the sale of sustainable products while helping those companies grow and innovate. The use of mass media may not even be needed as telemarketing, sponsorships, direct mailing, and flyers are a potential strategy as well.  In conclusion, advertisement not only made my daily consumption more sustainable but also instilled a sense of pride in me for contributing towards a social cause. 

“Viewers Make Meaning” in Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture, by Marita Sturken & Lisa Cartwright, pp. 45–71.

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*Media Convergence*

The merging of different types of technology such as a camera, GPS, television, in a cellphone with access to internet has definitely brought ease to my consumption of media. Being able to find everything I need within one device has made me very dependent on it. I am able to carry an entire library in my back pocket and have access to it anytime over the internet. I must say, it is quite fascinating to think about. Smartphone owners have access to a plethora of information that has not historically existed. I am a voracious reader, researcher, and an avid debater. If someone brings up a topic that I am unfamiliar with, I quickly use my phone to read up on it in order to further my knowledge. On my daily commute to work, I read ebooks on my phone. When I am driving, I either listen to music or podcasts with the help of my phone. When I cook, I turn to following a step by step Youtube video on new recipes. My smartphone allows me to efficiently execute all my daily tasks while maintaining contact with friends and family through text, sharing funny posts on Instagram, and placing phone calls to family members, friends, or colleagues. If I had to carry multiple devices in order to do all of the above, I would probably need to carry several bags with me wherever I went but media convergence has provided me with the opportunity to experience efficiency. My productivity has been augmented exponentially which allows me to fit in more tasks to complete within my day. 

Gasher, M., Skinner, D., & Lorimer, R. (2016). Defining the field. In Mass communication in Canada (8th ed.) (pp. 2–31). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.