AQA A-Level Sociology | The Media | Impacts of New Media

tutor2u

12 Mar 202206:58

Summary

TLDRThis tutorial explores the profound impacts of new media on society, highlighting the exponential growth of internet usage, particularly among younger generations, and the resulting generational divide. It discusses the concept of 'digital natives' and the challenges faced by the 'digital underclass,' who lack access to online services. The video also touches on the democratizing potential of new media through social activism and the issues of content quality, misinformation, and the rise of trolling. It concludes by pondering whether new media reflects a shift towards late modernity and postmodernism, with traditional power structures still influencing the media landscape.

Takeaways

🌐 The exponential growth of new media has significantly influenced society, especially over the past two decades.
📈 There's been a doubling of internet usage in the last 10 years, with a notable increase in out-of-home access through smart devices.
👶 The rise in internet usage is largely driven by younger generations, creating a generational divide with older adults.
🌐 The term 'digital natives' refers to those born in the digital era who have grown up with easy access to new media.
📰 Traditional media users, often from older generations, face challenges in adapting to new media sources.
🏢 Socioeconomic status impacts new media access, with lower classes less likely to engage with new media, leading to a 'digital underclass'.
🏠 The digital underclass faces significant challenges, especially with services moving online, exacerbating issues during events like the COVID-19 lockdowns.
🛍️ New media offers increased consumer choice and convenience in accessing information, entertainment, and services.
🏢 The shift to online services has negatively impacted high streets and small businesses, as consumers often choose larger suppliers.
🗳️ New media has revitalized democracy by enabling social activism and putting pressure on organizations and governments to change policies.
📉 Critics argue that new media has led to a decline in content quality and an increase in 'dumbing down' of culturally significant content.
📰 The reliability of information has been questioned with the rise of 'fake news' and poor journalism practices.
👎 Negative aspects of new media include trolling and the lack of content regulation, leading to public criticism and threats.
📚 New media reflects societal changes towards late modernity, with increased consumerism, individualism, and a focus on diversity and individual experiences.

Q & A

What is one of the key features of contemporary society mentioned in the script?
-One of the key features of contemporary society mentioned in the script is the exponential growth of new media and its influence on society, particularly over the last 20 years.
According to Ofcom, how has the time spent on the internet changed in the last decade?
-According to Ofcom, the amount of time spent on the internet has doubled in the last 10 years.
What is the term used to describe individuals born in the digital era who have grown up with new media?
-The term used to describe individuals born in the digital era who have grown up with new media is 'digital natives'.
How does social class impact access to new media according to the script?
-Social class impacts access to new media with lower social classes being less likely to spend time engaged with new media, both in the UK and globally.
What is the term used to describe individuals with limited access to new media, particularly the internet?
-The term used to describe individuals with limited access to new media, particularly the internet, is 'digital underclass'.
What challenges did the digital underclass face during the COVID-19 lockdowns as mentioned in the script?
-During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the digital underclass faced significant challenges such as exclusion from education moving online, difficulty in applying for benefits and services that were moved online, and challenges in accessing other services like tax returns and doctor appointments.
What positive impacts does the new media have on consumers according to the script?
-The new media has increased choice for consumers, allowing them to access information, entertainment, and services when and where they want, compare prices, and read reviews, which can improve the quality of customer experience.
How has new media revitalized democracy as per the script?
-New media has revitalized democracy by allowing for interactivity and participation, which has led to social activism through online petitions, sharing details of protest movements, and pressuring groups, organizations, and governments to amend policies and laws.
What criticisms are there regarding the growth of new media and its impact on quality?
-Critics suggest that the growth of new media has led to a decline in quality with an increase in quantity, as media producers fill schedules with low-cost productions, leading to accusations of 'dumbing down' culturally significant content.
What are some negative aspects of participation and interactivity in new media mentioned in the script?
-Some negative aspects of participation and interactivity in new media include the spread of fake news, misinformation, distrust of journalism, trolling, and the rise of council culture and debates over free speech.
How has new media reflected the acceleration of modernity into an era of late modernity?
-New media has reflected the acceleration of modernity into an era of late modernity by increasing consumerism and individualism, moving society away from meta-narratives towards issues of diversity, alienation, exclusion, and individual experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Impacts of New Media on Society

This paragraph discusses the exponential growth of new media and its profound influence on contemporary society, particularly over the last two decades. It highlights the increase in internet usage, especially among younger generations, leading to a generational divide. The concept of 'digital natives' is introduced, referring to those born into the digital era who have grown up with a focus on immediate gratification and interactive culture. Socio-economic disparities in access to new media are also explored, resulting in a 'digital underclass' that faces significant challenges in accessing essential services and information. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, with many services moving online and excluding those without internet access. The paragraph concludes by noting the potential marginalization of those unable to access new media, impacting their life chances and consumer experiences.

05:02

📉 New Media's Effects on Democracy and Culture

The second paragraph delves into the positive and negative impacts of new media. It emphasizes the increased consumer choice and the revitalization of democracy through social activism facilitated by new media platforms. However, it also points out the potential decline in cultural quality due to the rise of low-cost productions and the proliferation of 'fake news.' The paragraph discusses the challenges of misinformation and distrust in journalism, as well as the negative aspects of online interactivity, such as trolling. It reflects on the broader societal changes brought about by new media, including the acceleration of modernity, increased consumerism, and individualism. The paragraph concludes by considering whether new media has changed society for better or worse, suggesting that it may be leading to a postmodern era characterized by mistrust of experts and a focus on individual experiences.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡New Media

New Media refers to digital communication channels and platforms, such as the internet, social media, and mobile devices, which have transformed the way information is disseminated and consumed. In the video, new media is highlighted as a significant feature of contemporary society, with a particular emphasis on its exponential growth and influence over the past two decades. The script discusses how new media has changed societal interactions and access to information, creating both opportunities and challenges.

💡Digital Natives

Digital Natives are individuals who have grown up with digital technology and the internet as a natural part of their lives. The video script uses this term to describe a generation that has been shaped by the interactive culture of new media, influencing their expectations and behaviors, such as seeking immediate gratification and being able to access information and react to events with speed. This contrasts with older generations who may not be as adept or comfortable with new media.

💡Generational Divide

The Generational Divide refers to the gap in attitudes, values, and behaviors between different age groups, particularly in the context of technology use. The video script points out that younger people are more likely to access new media sources, leading to a divide where older individuals may be less familiar or less inclined to engage with new media, which can result in different life experiences and societal participation.

💡Digital Underclass

The Digital Underclass is a term used in the script to describe a segment of society that has limited or no access to new media, particularly the internet. This lack of access can lead to significant disadvantages, as many services and opportunities are increasingly moving online. The video illustrates this with examples from the COVID-19 lockdowns, where children without home internet were excluded from online education, highlighting the societal challenges this group faces.

💡Social Class and New Media

The video script discusses the relationship between social class and access to new media, noting that lower social classes are less likely to engage with new media. This is exemplified by statistics from an Ofcom survey, which showed a disparity in access to smart technologies between different social classes. The video argues that this can lead to a further marginalization of those in lower social classes in a digital society.

💡Late Modernity

Late Modernity is a concept discussed in the video that refers to the current stage of societal development, characterized by increased consumerism, individualism, and a shift away from grand narratives towards a focus on diversity, alienation, and individual experiences. New media is seen as both a reflection of and a contributor to this era, with its ability to provide personalized content and facilitate individual expression and consumption.

💡Cultural Elitism

Cultural Elitism is a perspective criticized in the video, which involves a rejection of popular culture in favor of what is perceived as higher forms of culture. The script suggests that some critics view the proliferation of new media content, such as reality TV and homegrown productions, as a 'dumbing down' of cultural significance, reflecting a cultural elitist viewpoint.

💡Fake News

Fake News is a term used in the video to describe the spread of false or misleading information, often through unregulated or poorly researched content. The video points out that the rise of new media has led to concerns over the reliability of information sources, with fake news contributing to misinformation and a growing distrust in journalism.

💡Trolling

Trolling is mentioned in the video as a negative aspect of the interactivity and participation enabled by new media. It refers to the act of deliberately provoking or upsetting others, often by posting inflammatory or off-topic messages online. The video suggests that trolling has become a public concern as it can lead to a hostile environment and personal threats, undermining the positive potential of new media for open dialogue.

💡Free Speech

Free Speech is a concept discussed in relation to the regulation of content on new media platforms. The video notes that there are arguments both for and against greater regulation, with some critics arguing that new media has failed to adequately control harmful content. This debate is set against the backdrop of a broader societal conversation about the balance between freedom of expression and the need to prevent harm.

Highlights

The exponential growth of new media and its societal impact over the last 20 years.

According to Ofcom, internet usage has doubled in the last decade.

Smart technology has driven increased internet access outside the home.

Younger generations are more likely to use the internet, causing a generational divide.

The term 'digital natives' refers to those born in the digital era with access to new media.

Older generations rely more on traditional media, leading to societal issues.

Digital natives are influenced by an interactive culture and immediate gratification.

Social class impacts access to new media, with lower classes less likely to engage.

The concept of a 'digital underclass' due to limited internet access.

State institutions' online-only services exclude those without internet access.

The COVID-19 lockdowns highlighted the digital divide in education and services.

In 2015, Ofcom found social classes D and E had less access to smart technologies.

New media offers increased choice in accessing information and services.

Critics argue new media has negatively impacted high streets and small businesses.

New media can revitalize democracy through social activism and online engagement.

The rise of new media has led to concerns over content quality and 'dumbing down'.

Questions over the reliability of sources and the spread of fake news.

Negative aspects include trolling and the lack of content regulation.

New media reflects late modernity with increased consumerism and individualism.

Traditional media conglomerates still dictate media agendas despite new media's rise.