Week 1: Thoughts on Media Usage

Take a moment to pause from whatever it is you're doing, and consider where your mobile phone is. Personally, I wouldn't find it hard to agree that perhaps at least 80% would have their phones within a meter radius (within an arm's reach). 

Thus, I'm of the opinion that media devices has become such a common thing in this current generation. And with these media devices becoming almost a default accessory to the average joe, it is no wonder that media elements are also being consumed on a daily basis.

Media is no longer an exclusive feature. It is not only the rich who own television sets, not only the army in possession of satellite phones. It has gone beyond the initial primary task of connecting one person to another, to deliver a message; a communication.

Media now encompasses even more aspects of our life. A mobile phone started off as a media for communication. Now a mobile phone is leaning more towards becoming a multi-media platform, where besides communication, it is used for entertainment, information-seeking, and personal daily care such as memos and reminders.

A mobile phone is now more commonly used beyond the goal of exchanging calls or messages, for things such as an alarm clock, a calender, a basic calculator, etc. Even more so considering this age of high-tech commonness, where in Malaysia, smartphones are quickly becoming a regular sight. These high-tech phones bring an even wider genre of media to delve in. Processing documents, viewing presentation slides, web search, image editors, and games, are among the various tasks capable to be handled with these small palm-held devices.

Talk about having the world in the palm of you hands.

Even my younger sister, at the very tender age of 9, has her own mobile phone. I only received mine when I was 15, and I'm sure my parents bought their first when they were university students. A clear sign showing progress of how technology media is fast becoming more common in society.

I believe media has also made an impact on the behaviour of society. With the wide-spread use of internet, social media such as Facebook and Twitter is very common nowadays. Having a Facebook account is almost like having an identification card, but rather an online identification. Facebook encourages the "postings" on "walls", and combined with Twitter's main function to post "tweets", I believe at some point, it has affected the behavioural or psychological patterns of the current generation's media-hyped society.

People are more inclined to upload posts after monotony posts. Everyday things such as "I just had dinner" are often posted, and for what reason? With Facebook and Twitter, and other similar social media sites, is the society nowadays so inclined to keep "tweeting" to garner attention on themselves? Or perhaps they merely consider the sites as their (public) journal. However, I believe with the "like" and "retweet" features offered, having someone respond to your post would give a boost of confidence, no matter how small or fleeting the feeling may be. Media sites offer a chance for everyone to be heard, and to make your presence a solid existence on the internet (oxymoron?).

Post something, be seen, be heard, be acknowledged, be liked, be approved of.

The product of it is what I think, a different set of mind, thinking, and behaviour of society, than compared to say, a youth from the 1950s.

Whether it is a better difference or not, is left for a later date and more equipped anthropology research.