“I Want It Now!”: Instant Gratification of Digital Communications

The birth of the 24-hour news cycle created an expectation for audiences that the press would constantly report the latest news updates, whether or not there was anything truly newsworthy to report. This paradigm is largely driven by profits made from high audience traffic, whether from views on major television networks or clicks on Facebook and Google (Sambrook, 2017). The drive to be the first and the fastest has damaged the quality of reporting. In fact, in 2021, Americans’ trust in the media dipped to just 36%, a level second only to 2016 when 32% of adults in the U.S. reported finding the media trustworthy (Brenan, 2021). Audiences want their news reported immediately and continuously, but then lose confidence in the press when they inevitably make mistakes.

Likewise, the various digital platforms individuals use in their personal lives means that they are more reachable than ever. If they don’t answer the phone, send an email. If they still don’t answer, try a text. Still nothing? Message them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Our digitalcommunications are increasing while our face-to-face interactions are on thedecline, but these communications are failing to build the stronger relationships that come with in-personal connections. While there is a convenience to being able to communicate instantly, it comes with a fatigue that can occur with constant connectedness. Social media and other digital platforms may satisfy the desire to engage with other humans in the short-term, but it is not a viable long-term replacement for in-person relationships.

References:

Brenan, M. (2021, October 7). Americans' trust in media dips to second lowest on record. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/355526/americans-trust-media-dips-second-lowest-record.aspx

Sambrook, R. (2017, April 12). Taking the bait: The quest for instant gratification online is seriously compromising news reporting. Index on Censorship, 46(1), 16-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306422017703588

Comments

Media Technology: From the Printing Press to the Smart Phone

Mass communication professionals have been a critical function of society since the advent of the printing press. The Age of Enlightenment was spurred on by the availability and affordability of reading materials and by the increasingly common literacy among lower classes (Sámelová, 2021). Print media continued to develop and refine for centuries, eventually followed by the introduction of radio and television media. The 20 th century brought new technologies that forced communicators to shift their practices to take advantage of audiences hungry to experience these new and exciting inventions. Radio broadcasters could no longer rely solely on their words to convey a message, they now had to consider tone, delivery, and speed. Likewise, television required everyone from news anchors to talk show hosts to be both informative and entertaining, giving birth to the concept of “infotainment” (Sámelová, 2021, p.25). The dawn of the new millennium ushered in the age of online technolo...

Journalism, Activism, and the Digital Age

Digital communication technology, particularly blogs and social media, have provided a platform for average, everyday individuals to share their stories or advocate for causes. Before the advent of the internet, activists were only able to share their messages with national audiences when they received attention from the traditional media (Häussler, 2021). Now, anyone with a Twitter account can use it as a virtual megaphone to blast their thoughts and opinions on any subject. While this can be beneficial to the flow of information among citizens, it brings a variety of issues professional journalists must tackle. One benefit to the accessibility of online journalism is the opportunity for activists and community organizers to utilize digital communications to push for societal change. The civil rights movement, women’s suffrage, and LGTBQ pride all achieved great strides for human rights thanks to organizers and activists. Today’s generation marching for climate action, gun control, an...

Digital Technology Improvement Plan

The many benefits of modern digital communications are undeniable: connection to family, opportunity to meet new friends, visibility for businesses, and access to the collection of human knowledge, to name a few. With these advantages, however, come limitations that create problems for society. Some of the most prevalent challenges include big data and cybersecurity, the spread of misinformation, and unrealistic expectations caused by social media. There are concrete steps that both individuals and institutions can take to improve these limitations. Big data is typically used by corporations to learn more about consumers in order to turn larger profits while cybersecurity threats are often carried out by bad actors attempting to access and steal private information. Individuals can be safer by educating themselves about how they are tracked and how their data is used by companies. Then they can make choices that protect their information like deleting browser cookies and restricting...

Modern Media Evolution

Search This Blog