How much power do we have in regards to media? If we think of media in conventional terms then our power is constantly shrinking. We consume more and more but it is controlled by fewer and fewer (but also bigger and bigger) companies. There are more ways we consume media today using TV’s, computers, even cell phones but there are also more ways of controlling where and how that media is consumes. Companies accomplish this mainly through the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) schemes.
However with this loss of control there is paradoxically more power available to us than ever before. What makes this possible? Social media. Using Facebook and Twitter we the people have the power to make our voice heard. If no one is willing to listen then through the power of social media we can organize so that together our voices are louder than ever.
In 1989 one man literally stood against the Chinese military in Tienanmen Square. The photograph (copyright Associated Press and linked from the BBC website) showing this man’s bravery was shown all over the world. It shows him just standing there stopping a line of Chinese tanks. But this spring when people in Arab countries were seeking freedom from oppression had a power at their disposal that the one Chinese person didn’t – the power of social media. Instead of one person standing against an oppressive government there were a whole lot of them that were able to organize through social media. So at the beginning of the 21st Century we the people have less and more social power than ever before.
I agree Mike, the voice of the people is growing smaller and smaller.But would you say it is our fault ? If we are giving our power away ,and letting the television provide us with information about things we didn't know existed before that show, is that our fault that we believe it?Are we the fools for letting them be our guide in life?
ReplyDeleteWe do have less power than before and in a way that's our fault as well. But we also have more power than before as well. With Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube our ability to create media and have it reach a large number of people has never been greater. We have the ability to literally reach a worldwide audience so I wouldn't say the situation is hopeless.
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