As someone who grew up with the internet, I don’t stop to appreciate it very often. Ironically, when I sat down to write this post, the wifi cut out on me. The immediate annoyance I felt just goes to show how much I take access to media for granted.
Media convergence has great effects on the media in our daily lives. This is the concept of different types of mass media content merging. Mobile media, the internet, and social platforms are just a few of the things that enable this.
In college, it is easy to see some of the ways convergence affects our relationship with media and with the internet.
First, there is almost no delay in our connection with media (as long as the wifi is working). On campus, this can be seen in the mass emails that tell about clubs and events. When my parents were in college, fliers were put up or sent to mailboxes. Now I get notifications on my phone the minute information is released.
Additionally, we have access to multiple types of media all at once. During football games, talk show commentary can be streamed from a mobile device or computer. Live scores are updated via apps and the internet. News about the game, the players, and the opposing team contributes to our engagement with the game itself.
Lastly, convergence has changed the variety of media we are exposed to. Since I got to Norman, my media has been limited to things relating to college. My Instagram feed is filled up with campus accounts. I pay more attention to campus news than current events. Convergence has shifted power to the individual when it comes to choosing what kind of mass media one engages with.
