Media Innovations

Mr. Clayt Shirky had a talk about the fast-growing innovation of media this past few years. He also discussed on how media shifted the user’s way of communication, and its effect in our lives consciously and unconsciously. There were innovations such as printing press, telephones, film and televisions. He mentioned that media that is good at creating conversations is no good at creating groups, and that is how he described the past medias, but everything changed when internet entered our society.
Internet became the king of everything it literally replaced every innovation such as television, telephone, typewriter, and films. Almost everything migrated to internet. Why? because people are most likely to use their phones/computer/laptop more than these innovations. Yes, internet is useful, in fact it won’t be patronized if it’s not useful. A scenario was also presented wherein during an earthquake in china, some citizen uploaded a video live which helped the world become aware on what’s happening to them, with that I believe rescue can be more responsive because internet can send real time updates but beware of fake news.
One should verify things first before believing and be responsible to know more about the certain issues. It was also mentioned that because of the real time post about the earthquakes, donations were collected since people saw how big the disaster was. I’ve experienced that scenario here in the Philippines during the typhoon Ondoy and Yolanda, concerned citizens posted a video about the current event in their place and with that, people from all over the world sympathized the victims and prayed for them some even gave their clothes as their donation. The best part was Pope John Paul II heard about the victims and rushed over to the Philippines to suffer with the victims and pray for them.

But from every benefit we get from internet there is still a down side of it. For example, he mentioned about the video voting wherein if one is to vote a certain candidate, they have to film their own action then upload it to a certain website. For me, this process is too risky because in the present days, vote buying is really a trend. If a candidate noticed that you did not vote that person and received a pay, then your life may be at risk.
I believe voting should be in private to avoid conflicts, anger and hate between the government and its people. Another example is when Obama announced that he was going to shift his vote to FISA which caused misunderstanding towards the people. But later on, he explained himself through internet saying that the campaign understood that their role was to convene but not control. Lastly, during the china earthquake incident, the government prevented the citizens to spread the news through internet and whoever post an information may be imprisoned. For me this is against their freedom to express. One has a privilege to express themselves without any barriers especially the government.
I believe that change is the only constant thing in the world and that is what improves our society. With that we can portray that media makes history by the transformation of the way of communication and how people uses the available resources just like broadcasting news its either through radio or through newsprint there is no interaction between the media towards its audience unlike the 20th century media landscape, we can freely comment and suggest things through the use of internet. Media shifted from a one-way conversation to an interactive one.
One should also be aware that internet may cause negativity in many ways such as abuse of the usage through bullying and spreading of fake news, misunderstanding and so on. We should be aware and prevent the government to control social media, because each one of us has the freedom of information. And every right we have, should be used and nurtured. But always keep in mind that discipline is what makes things useful and lasting. We should all be a disciplined user of the technology/media that we have today so that it will be a benefit and not a destruction.