Abstract
Days have vanished when television sets, radios, and print materials were the conventional forms of media consumption. This kind of consumption has been replaced by social media platforms and the internet. This discussion, therefore, examines the main sources of media information during the 1960s and 1970s when the targeted interviewee was a youngster. The paper compares such information sources with the current use of social media platforms. The outlined differences show conclusively that the internet has transfigured how human beings exchange information and ideas.
Comparative Analysis of Traditional Sources of Information and Social Media
Introduction
The creation and consumption of information have changed significantly within the past century. The invention of the telephone by Alexander Bell in the late 19th century revolutionized human communication forever (Vivian, 2014). Within the past ten years, the internet has transformed how people get information (Baruah, 2012). Past generations have been characterized by different forms of communication. The present-day generation has mastered the art of using various social media platforms to share and exchange ideas. It is also agreeable that the older generations had the privilege to consume information relayed to them through newspapers, radios, and television screens. This discussion gives a comparative analysis of my personal use of social media and the media consumption of my uncle.
Comparative Analysis
To complete this discussion, I decided to interview my favorite uncle named Johnson. Born in 1961 in the United States, Johnson witnessed some of the events of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM). During the interview, Johnson was pleased to reflect and analyze how media consumption had changed within the last five decades. My uncle indicated that he grew up at a time when TV sets and radios were the major sources of information (Baruah, 2012). During this time, only a small number of households could afford the device. However, my uncle indicated that the number of households with TV sets continued to increase throughout the last quarter of the 20th century.
The major television networks include the American Broadcasting Company (ABC, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and CBS (Baruah, 2012). The respondent also indicated that he was a fan of various television programs such as “The Twilight Zone” and “Star Trek”. Another memorable event mentioned in the event was Bill Cosby’s acceptance speech after winning the Emmy Awards in the year 1968. The other information gained from my respondent was that they used to have a Black and White television set. According to the interviewee, the family purchased its first color TV set in 1975.
My uncle confirmed that many people received news from various newspapers and a small number of TV stations. These sources of information reported both international and local events. However, he indicated that they had to wait until their parents read the newspaper. This understanding shows clearly that the availability of information was scarce compared to the present day (Rajendran & Thesinghraja, 2014). The respondent indicated that only a few households could receive a newspaper every day during the time. This fact shows clearly that many people were unable to get quality information promptly. Media ubiquity was lacking during the period.
Individuals who wanted to get information about various politicians and celebrities relied on different newspapers and TV channels. For instance, Johnson stated clearly that he was great fun of Aretha Franklin throughout the 1970s. The TV also played a significant role in informing more people about the political events of the period (Baruah, 2012). The respondent indicated that the media made it easier for him to follow the lives of famous people such as Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Carter, Phyllis Schafly, and Richard Nixon. The two media platforms also informed more people about the issues surrounding the infamous Watergate Scandal.
This information shows that my uncle’s generation was unable to get much information about celebrities and politicians. These individuals could only gain little knowledge about such personalities by listening to songs and speeches on the radio. The radio was important because it reported various events and happenings during the period (Vivian, 2014). The radio was also relevant because it informed more people about eminent musicians of the time. The entertainment sections of various newspapers narrated the stories of different musicians such as Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, and Elvis Presley. That being the case, members of this generation relied on TVs, radios, and newspapers for media consumption when they were young.
My generation has been privileged to share ideas and knowledge through some media platforms. Having been born in the United States, I have received numerous ideas from various television channels, radio stations, and social media platforms. During my childhood, I could watch various TV shows, cartoon programs, and movies. The availability of various media platforms made it easier for me to understand many things about popular culture (Rajendran & Thesinghraja, 2014).
The consumption of media has increased tremendously within the past decade. The internet has revolutionized how news and information are delivered to different people. I am able to connect my laptop to the internet and access every television channel, radio station, music database, or documentary. Members of our generation also have access to veracious social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. These platforms are making it possible for many individuals to gather information and get instantaneous news (Vivian, 2014).
I also have a smartphone that makes it easier for me to connect with my friends, relatives, celebrities, and classmates. To begin with, many mobile devices make it easier for users to get breaking news, advice, and quotes (Vivian, 2014). This development has been enabled by the continued use of various applications. For example, several newspaper apps make it easier for many people to get news about every current event. During my uncle’s youth, members of the society had to wait for information from newspapers and radios. More often than not, most of the information was outdated, unlike today.
Different social media platforms have changed the way young people communicate. For instance, Facebook makes it possible for people to communicate instantly without any barrier. Facebook users can share and communicate instantly with their friends whenever they want. Some apps such as Twitter inform people about events as they happen. The use of social media platforms has been observed to deliver positive results to the people who use them. Increased access to instant information is something that has the potential to save lives and improve the living conditions of many people around the globe. Trending events on Twitter help people respond accordingly to them. This approach has augmented the rate and manner through which human beings share information (Baruah, 2012).
Other apps deliver instant information to many young people today. For example, I have been consuming much information trough different apps such as Snapchat and Flipboard. The discovery option on Snapchat helps me get access to various news and magazines (Vivian, 2014). Some of these magazines include Cosmopolitan, People, and Buzzfeed. Snapchat has improved the manner in which people access various publications such as the Daily Mail News. I have also been using the Flipboard app to read different content. The major contents include technology, business, and photography.
My uncle relied on the radio to follow the lives of his favorite musicians and politicians. Flipboard is presently used by individuals who want to know more about their favorite celebrities and personalities (Vivian, 2014). The app also allows me to access to different newspapers and publications. My uncle was supposed to read daily print newspapers. Today I can read many online newspapers without necessarily having to purchase a printed copy.
The internet can also be accessed using handheld devices such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops. The internet gives people the power to read books, poems, and journal articles without visiting a physical library. The readers can also get instant information whenever an event is taking place. For example, football fans can follow live matches without necessarily visiting the stadiums (Vivian, 2014). This fact shows that the level of media usage and consumption has increased enormously within the past fifteen years.
Social media has helped many youngsters overcome most of the barriers associated with traditional sources of information such as radios, newspapers, and television sets (Rajendran & Thesinghraja, 2014). New platforms such as Whatsapp and Facebook are used by people across the globe. Many youths are able to chat and connect with friends and unknown people. They can also make friends with individuals from every corner of the globe. The invention of new platforms such as Skype has improved the speed of communication. People can video-call their friends and communicate instantly. That being the case, modern technology has continued to change the manner in which information and data are transferred from one person to another (Vivian, 2014). People can also get instant health information using a number of apps.
Conclusion
New methods of information-sharing have emerged within the past fifteen years. Some of these methods were unimaginable four decades ago. During his childhood, my uncle could only get information from a newspaper or a TV set. Things are totally different in the 21st century. The emergence of the internet has offered new opportunities for many young people. The internet supports different social media platforms. Such platforms have increased the level of media consumption at an unprecedented rate. Media ubiquity is something that has been achieved due to the continued use of the internet (Rajendran & Thesinghraja, 2014). Since information is a source of power, members of the present generation should look back and appreciate the strides that have been made within the past four decades. By so doing, the proliferation of different media platforms will eventually transform the lives of many communities.
References
Baruah, T. (2012). Effectiveness of social media as a tool of communication and its potential for technology enabled connections: a micro-level study. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2(5), 1-10.
Rajendran, L., & Thesinghraja, P. (2014). The impact of new media on traditional media. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 22(4), 609-616.
Vivian, J. (2014). Media of mass communication. Upper-Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.