WHAT IS NEXT? HOW DIGITAL MEDIA SHAPES OUR SOCIETY

Undeniably, algorithms, digital currency, gaming culture, surveillance, social networking, and connective mobilization are daily realities (McDonald, 2021). Digital media is an integral part of our life, whether on a personal or professional level. As Lievrow mentions, technology and digital media question our realities and change them forever, such as, "What is the nature of property? Every aspect of our behavior or our beliefs is constantly kind of being pulled away from us, appropriated and owned by outfits like Google and like Facebook".

Technology and platforms like Google and Facebook have changed cultural patterns, practices, and social structures. Data has become the center of economics. Many questions (such as how these technologies and the adaptation of their use will impact different cultures worldwide) must be answered for a clear vision of the future.

Like all other fields, communication, and communicators are also influenced by the global new realities and necessitate professional training to be competitive in the labor market. In the past, communicators were mainly responsible for creating and distributing content on traditional methods but with the rise of technology, they now have a much broader range of responsibilities (Kolodzy, 2013). Considering the new ways of delivering and consuming news, professional communicators must learn abilities working on different digital platforms and channels. A wide range of digital platforms and channels, such as social media, websites, blogs, podcasts, and online publications, create new opportunities to reach an audience. Communicators must be proficient in using various digital tools, analytics, and content management systems to distribute and track their messages across different platforms effectively.

The importance of Multimedia Content Creation is also rising as audiences consume more visual content than before. It includes video, infographics, interactive presentations, and live streams. 

                          

                                                                  References:

McDonald. J (2021). What is Next? How Digital Media Shapes Our Society. 

https://seis.ucla.edu/news/whats-next-how-digital-media-shapes-our-society

Jenny. L (2021), Visual Communication Design in Media. 

https://eds-s-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=5297f681-988a-49d5-a4e3-6b408302a02f%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=129814657&db=ers

Kolodzy. J (2013), Practicing Convergence Journalism.