Many people assume that new media refers to new technology. So why should we study social media instead of technology? This week we dissect network media further looking at three aspects, new media and Instagram to understand the differences.
New Media
New media is a strategic term that allows us to think beyond narrow markers (of having to be digital or online). It is something other than technology (Siapera, 2012). Siapera continues to state that new media is sometimes digital, sometimes online and most importantly always evolving. For myself, that continuous evolution is the most exciting and it is almost difficult to imagine what is coming next.
Social Media
Social media can be seen as having a relationship between technology and society and to understand it deeper, we have to check the history of the web. Hinton & Hjorth (2013) discuss social media in relation to the web’s history.
Web 1.0: Previous way of using the internet, that was too technical and inaccessible for most people to interact with. It was difficult to find commercial value.
To make the web more user friendly and commercial, the web has a re-brand giving us
Web 2.0: This allows for more interaction, more websites and content continually increasing. Tools and software for users to interact with the web increase and less technical skills are required to engage.
Instagram is social media platform allowing uses to share photos and videos connected by hashtags. Our personal data is collected, and advertising is interspersed through our social content. I think most people has some awareness that their personal information is being collected but would be unaware how much and in what way it is being used. For many users of Instagram, the social and entertaining aspects out way any concerns about data collection or advertising.
References:
Chun, W.H.K 2016, Updating to Remain the Same: Habitual New Media, MIT Press, Massachusetts, United States
Hinton, S & Hjorth L 2013, Understanding Social Media. Sage Publications, London.
