Advances in Internet technologies have transformed the web into a communication medium. This digital communication takes place in many different forms: e-mails, chats, comments, posts, links, reviews, ratings, videos, etc.
Internet users can utilize these tools to create online conversations about user-generated content. A good example of this is videos on YouTube. The “comments” tool on YouTube and other similar video sites allows viewers to communicate with the producer and other viewers. It also lets the producer of the video receive feedback. On the same site, users can also give feedback by clicking a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. On just one website, so many forms of communication are available to Internet users.
With the recent creation of “smart-phones” it seems the increase in digital communication has been exponential. The introduction of the cell-phone as a social media device makes it easier for people to communicate digitally. I personally do not have a smart-phone but most of my friends do. If we want to watch a video on YouTube or check out something on Facebook, it takes only a matter of seconds on their phone. If we want to send someone a message or comment on something, we need only a few more seconds.
It’s hard to say whether or not the increase in digital communication in recent years is a good thing or not. In terms of a medium for sharing and communicating about creative works though, I think it has positive implications.
-Tracy Galloway
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