Audiences in the Digital Age

February 14, 2023

In just the last generation, the internet has changed both how we view media, and how we respond to it. Before this new age of the internet, the audience was seen more passively. They simply were fed the media and did not give anything in return. However, the audience is now able to both be fed, and feed others. Conversation between the audience is striking connections and bringing more people together. We are now almost always connected to some sort of device whether that be headphones, a phone, a computer, a tablet, etc. This constant state of togetherness creates more communication among not only people you know, but also strangers. From personal experience, I have met so many of my close friends online in different chat forums or social media apps. Because it is now normal to chat with people you don't know online, it becomes much easier to make friends. The influences of mass media and the ‘media effect’, affect many aspects of our lives. This can include voting, beliefs and individual views, and personal knowledge on certain topics. Media from our social media apps can have a huge impact on the choices we make and how we choose to live our lives. The audience is also a huge part of the media equation. When a product is produced and the audience receives it, the makers want to make sure their message is spread. In our age of media, sharing posts or messages is just a click away. This is why producers of media very carefully create the product to attract a certain audience that will help them gain traction.