The Convergence of Media

Jenkins states convergence as "the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and the migratory behaviour of media audiences."

The rise of the internet has allowed for a mix of old media and new media, with different kinds of information from all platforms becoming interlinked from computing and other information technologies. Convergence lets individual consumers interact and connect socially to create new forms of media and content accessible to wide audience with the birth of the digital revolution.

All entertainment technologies have been adapted to the internet with the radio, films, music and television being accessed with the web. As a student, I watch everything online without owning a television on iPlayer or 4OD, the BBC and Channel 4 have brought a catch up TV service to the web making it more accessible to many who don't own a television or who would like to watch a show from anywhere with an internet connection. I also  listen all my music whilst surfing the net, mostly on Spotify, a free streamer of music with adverts played between several songs. More recently, Spotify has allowed a premium service for streaming music on mobile devices for a monthly charge. Your account can also be connected with Facebook to share music with friends, allowing users to interact socially and see what their  friends  are listening to.

Another example of web convergence is the use of making free calls online via Skype, letting users call across the world and make video calls without using a home landline or mobile device at a cost. I use this frequently to contact friends and family at home whilst at university enabling greater social connection.

Convergence not only applies to the web but in portable devices such as smartphones and in particular iPhones and android devices. I find that my own smartphone is something which, besides using the phone for basic functions like  calling and texting, I spend alot of time using it for many other purposes which i would ordinarily would have gotten up to go on my laptop to do something. I find myself flicking through various social networking sites, using apps for the Guardian and other news sites to keep up to date, checking the weather, emails, googling information and keeping up with my finances with a mobile banking app. I use my smartphone to the extent that it organises my life and the synchronisation of my emails and other accounts helps to make that a little bit easier. Having the ability to do all of these things from my phone in any location has greatly improved my media experience through the technological convergence of the web.

Overall I find that media convergence has helped to develop and improve my lifestyle and social connectedness with easier access to all kinds of different technologies and media, I feel that media convergence has made a positive impact on society and will continue to make further developments in the future. 

Social Media and the Public Sphere

Jurgen Habermas developed the idea of the ‘public sphere’ providing a platform for individuals to discuss affair. It allows many to form public opinion about various matters in the hope that it transpires political change.

The internet and emergence of social media has been seen as being a positive influence on the Public Sphere in the way that it has promoted civic participation. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are used by many and with information constantly shared and at such a quick pace, the role of ‘citizen journalist’ has allowed many people of whom own camera phones to upload videos and photographs as and when they are happening in 'real time'.

The role of citizen journalism has fast become a strong and popular platform for many to report their goings on and upload straight to YouTube for millions to see. In turn this allows a fairer and democratized society for the public sphere in the sharing of information from members of the public, instead of receiving news from only official news broadcasters who, in higher positions are subject to political bias and the censoring of news.

As our notions of democracy are tied closely to the public discourse and opinions of others, social media has allowed us to be producers of our own content rather than just consumers from a mass audience. Although there may be more ways of producing opinions and generating social commentary, Turner’s research suggest that the hierarchy of the web allows many voices to go unheard due to search engines showing at the top of its lists the most searched sites. Much of the public’s written opinion on blogs and various sites are rarely heard due to the popularity of other sites published by a minority of 'white, highly educated, male, professionals who are vastly overrepresented in online opinion.’ (Turner, 2010) 

The internet has greatly allowed for public opinions to be voiced and furthered the development of the Public Sphere. Important topics that have trended on Twitter, such as recently the Leveson Inquiry has allowed many to voice their thoughts and opinions online using hashtags which has brought more people and not just followers to see the content you've published alongside it, increasing the spread of information and opinions. 

Overall I feel that the internet and the rise of social media have contributed to the Public Sphere in a positive way, allowing a place for individuals to voice their own opinions on important matters. The impact of social media has given more attention to the views of others and enabled the widespread of information to different audiences through social networking at a easier and quicker pace.

Digital Identity

Since the technological advances of the 20th century, the invention of the World Wide Web has allowed it's users to develop multiple identities. An individual is no longer one personality or one image, we have allowed ourselves to create these many identities through online persona's which we adopt for numerous websites, particularly social networks such as Facebook or Twitter or virtual communities such as SecondLife or World of Warcraft.

There are always dangers with posting your real identity online without letting too much information into the World Wide Web accessible to virtually anyone with online predators and stalkers on the web who exploit other user’s vulnerability. An interactive website called http://www.takethislollipop.com/ became a viral hit when it showed users when connected to their Facebook how their private information can be used, showing a creepy man stalking their personal profile. 

As an internet user, I also have profiles on the web for social networks to keep in touch with friends and their usual status updates and photo uploads. I feel that my identity online closely matches with my own real identity as a person with the use of my real name, picture and educational information although i feel that this allows other 'friends' to add me based on if they know me from attending the same school or as an old friend who recognises me from the photo, this is the only information that can will be displayed to those who don't already have me as a friend. I don't attempt to create a false identity in using real information but only so those who know me can add me. I take control over what I post on the web and there are settings for changing which audiences are allowed to view what. I feel in this way that my identity online is well-protected when aware of what privacy settings are available.

The importance of the digital identity has become essential in youth culture. As we as young people have come together to create our own identities through the representation of our online media from our photographs to our hobbies and likes. We each create an identity to represent to others, often identifying with an aspect of our culture with regard to particular groups and activities (e.g sport teams/societies or musical interests). Erving Goffman’s theory of self-presentation talks about the roles we play in many parts and our persona as a ‘mask’, we present a performance to observers of what we want them to believe and in this way create a public self through our online representation.

This online identity is a way of creating our ‘ideal self’ - the kind of person you would like to be and how you would like others to see you. Through gatekeeping we can filter out information that could cause negative perceptions, such as removing content like embarrassing photographs and adding interests or status updates to give a certain idea to others of what you might seem like. The reality of it is that in the flesh people are not what they seem to their online identity, thus creating false personas and identities.

Our identities or images of ourselves often change over time and is formed through our interaction with other people. Our social interaction with people can make us feel part of a community or part of interweaving friendship groups maintaining contact online. The interaction we have with others is important in forming opinions and changing views, especially for bloggers who express their opinions online.

Burton (2005) talks about how our ‘identity has a number of dimensions’ including ‘a sense of place, history, cultural practises, role and relationship and occupation’. These aspects of identity are important and show identity as becoming a combination of many factors. Our online identity has further allowed us to reach more people with similarities and keep contact with many across the world, yet maintaining barriers to onlookers of their true self. I feel that our digital identities are are not just one stable and homogeneous identity but now consist of fragments which are always changing. 

Sources:
Burton, G. (2005) Media and Society: Critical Perspectives, Open University Press.