Media Convergence & the Information Age: Is Too Much Really A Bad Thing?

    

     I was a child in the beginning stages of the Internet and a preteen during the dot-com boom. It was a time just before Apple revamped its operating system and image, and Gateway desktop computers were a fixture in every classroom. Yikes!

 Even though it was novel and intriguing to see a few companies encourage visitors to their newly-created websites at the time, our teachers still were doubtful of technology's future, encouraging us to do book research instead and not solely depend on the internet – as new as it may have been – for our information.

 I still remember the words of my seventh grade teacher ringing in my ears; her words displaying dissatisfaction in what has come true concerning technology: "In about 10 years, hundreds of web pages and websites will be available to you, but don't get caught up in the hype. It won't last." 

I'm sure my teacher -- just like many others -- are now eating their words. Surely no one could have realized just how much technology has grown in such a short time span.

Daily, thousands of gigabytes of information is digitally available to us across geographical lines and time zones, and can be accessed quickly and easily. And contrary to my teacher's "words of wisdom," technology is lasting and will only expand.

     As companies continue to merge and offer several services (i.e., cell phone companies offering cable, wireless, and internet services, and newspaper giants offering digital versions, subscriptions, and owning television companies, etc.), I wonder if these mergers will threaten the publics', as well as the country's, safety?

Technology has opened wide the doors of shopping online and/or from home. Though this may be convenient to some, it can also be hazardous, as businesses are asking consumers for their social security numbers and other personal information in order to purchase products or access certain information.

    



Are we doing too much too soon as it pertains to creating and expanding technology?             

                                                                  

     I believe what World Wide Web creator Tim Berners –Lee wrote in his 2010 article, “Long live the Web”: “The goal of the web is to serve humanity.” Again, everyone should have access to the web. This includes the disabled as well as those who live in rural areas. However information is accessed, whether digitally or wirelessly, users should have a safe, surfing experience and content should be accurate, affordable, fair, and encourage free thinking.

I do not personally have a problem with the advancement of technology or the Internet. I believe Americans are now living in the "best of times," as information continues to accelerate and entrepreneurship and innovation is realized. Interconnectivity has caused consumerism and innovation to explode, which I personally believe is the cornerstone of democracy. On the other hand, in order for technology to continue to expand and be available to all, there needs to be some regulation. By regulation, I mean there needs to be more sanctions, stricter protocol and overall supervision and maintenance of information set in place, to protect users' privacy and the security of our country. This is especially true as it pertains to young users being able to easily access pornographic or obscene material online. Just as there are gatekeepers in the newsrooms, there must be gatekeepers on the Internet, tasked to monitor activity on a continual basis.

So how can this so called 'regulation' take place? Maybe it's a far-fetched notion right now, but what if the government could hire a special task force whose sole responsibility would be to monitor Internet traffic and activity 24/7? If an on-call workforce is too costly, why not enable programs or special devices for consumers to use that will act as a stronger firewall against malicious or offensive information?

Whatever the preferred mechanism, something needs to be established -- at least within the next century or two -- to safeguard against hackers and protect consumers' personal information.
 

              

 

This is where the Federal Communications Commission (and possibly The Federal Trade Commission) may be able to step in. The FCC is responsible for not only ensuring that there is fair communication and business practices among companies, but that consumers have appropriate access to optimum information and can create it. In addition, the FCC ensures the public's consumer and communication rights are protected and not violated.

The FCC is to promote the "fair competition" concept, which means that innumerable companies can offer several of the same services and be truly competitive with one another. Fair competition also enables a "marketplace of ideas," where consumers can have a pool of options from which to choose, and therefore make better decisions on their own. Without fair competition, there is only one choice that can be made. More options mean a diverse spectrum of thoughts, which result in growth. 

The same concept holds true in advertising, where an advertiser must be fair in his/her marketing approaches -- allowing a consumer, who is reasonably minded, to be able to make a decision on a purchase without feeling "tricked" or deceived. In addition, presented information must be true and accurate, and not purposely false; surveys must present real data; and celebrities who endorse certain products, must actually use the products themselves. The burden to be accurate is heavy on advertisers, but the pain of sanctions for not following the rules set by the Federal Trade Commission, is far weightier! The FTC is holding advertisers and stakeholders accountable, and we as consumers should do the same thing, especially as it pertains to the Internet servicers and site providers!

The Information Highway has expanded tremendously since the days of the horse and carriage, the printing press, the telephone, and the railroad industry as it pertains to the dissemination of information. New means of transporting -- and creating -- information have advanced so much so, that it is difficult for information to be monitored around the clock efficiently.

                  

As more and more information inundates our classrooms, television screens and wireless devices, it is traveling at insurmountable speeds to other facets of our economy as well, such as our hospitals (in healthcare and medicine), agriculture (farming and industry), the government (laws, etc.) and even religious sectors.

   It seems the government (namely the Armed Forces) is arguably always privy and the first to know about a technological advancement or innovative breakthrough. With the advent of the super computer and other technological milestones used to locate the enemy and protect security in times past, it's no surprise that the government would play a pivotal part in the convergence movement.

     For instance, during the 2008 Presidential Election, then nominee, Senator Barack Obama, perhaps hinted toward the government going more digital when constituents began to see the now president's speeches broadcast live through YouTube and Google. Reports surfaced that the president was using his Blackberry (which is now out-of-date by the way), and Facebook to connect with Millennials and young constituents.

Never before in the history of the presidency, have voters been able to connect with the Commander-in-Chief in this type of way. Through Social Media, voters could ask the president questions, send uploaded videos and pics, and 'tweet' their concerns, feeling involved in the law-making process. Where other governmental leaders, especially older generations, failed in the technology route and doubted its impact, President Obama embraced it and capitalized on it, knowing this change would very much be a staple of the future!  

 

   

 It seems many of us cannot live without our daily dose of news on the web, our apps to help us travel or eat, or the infinite downloads of music and other miscellaneous techno necessities. We need to be aware of both the positive and negative aspects that come with the rapid influx of information technology provides.

Whatever your personal thoughts on the matter, one thing is certain: both media convergence and technology are here to stay.