Traditional Media in a Modern World
My experience with traditional media was mostly in my childhood, primarily in the form of satellite television and printed books. During this time there was more social anticipation for the release and consumption of products. The hype garnered from long production times and more limited releases led to more social influence in the television and traditional media which I consumed. I can still recall the anticipation of purchasing the new Harry Potter books during summer break as they released, or the social interactions around attending movie releases at theatres. This local social interactivity is not replicated to the same degree with more modern media forms and streaming. This is partially due to reduced production times and more dissipated attention due to the plethora of new media available. In many ways, this void feels like a lost piece of local communities and engagement with the offline world.
However, new media has also introduced elements of improved accessibility and much more expansive content. This expanded library can be linked to the diminished production costs of new media, allowing more diverse content to have the ability to become viral and exposed to an online community. As a queer person coming of age during the expansion of online interconnectivity, this exposure has led to a greater sense of belonging in a global community even when local communities lack these resources. The interactive engagement which new media offers can make all the difference for folks who do not have a local community to support them. However media literacy is much more crucial in navigating these environments as consumers of new media are much more prone to engaging with misinformation given its interactive environment.
