I’ve heard people say, “Technology these days has ruined how people talk to each other.” And sure, there’s some truth to that. But honestly? I’d argue it’s made things easier. Faster. You don’t need a message to flap its way on wings for four days just to get from point A to B. That said, there’s something comforting about the old ways—more face-to-face interactions, more effort to actually learn how to talk with people and their languages. No constant scramble to answer a call or find a charger. In J.D. Applen’s “Old Media, New Media, and Knowledge,” with a little help from Marshall McLuhan, they dive into how new media has completely shifted how we see communication in our world.
Every medium—whether it’s oral, print, or tech—starts with a thought. Someone had to think of the words, the structure, and then pass it down the line. That’s what makes the things we create—or they created—so unique. No two people think exactly alike. But with new media, that individuality has shifted—just a little. Consensus is easier now when everyone across the world can open an app and find opinions they agree with. It builds communities. Look at Comic-Con. New media brings together people who love shows, games, and fandoms, giving them a space to make friends and discover new interests that vibe with their own.
Media is a massive influence, no question. New media has shaped the world in countless ways, and it’s up to us, the users, to understand how. The leap from print—where we saw only pieces of the world and ourselves—to digital has unlocked so much. Technology lets us find answers with just a few clicks. It sounds like it made us a little lazy, sure, but it’s also created jobs and changed lives. Half the people who are famous now wouldn’t have made it without the media we have today. Personally, I’d probably struggle a bit without new media, but I still love pen and paper writing and good old in-person conversations. So who knows? New media might just be one of the greatest creations ever. But it also reminds us how fast things can unravel with one wrong click.
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