Coolest Things On The Web

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Admin
Coolest Things On The Web

Coolest Things On The Web

There’s no doubt that the Web has become a powerful mass communications medium. With it, the world is literally on our fingertips. You can really get famous overnight (as with Justin Bieber), become a fashion superstar (as with FashionToast.com’s blogger) or run a successful online shop without a pricey brick-and-mortar establishment (as with Etsy.com). We can all agree that the impact of the Web has been huge—with both good and bad repercussions.

The Positive Impact of Mass Media on the Web

  • Speed of information. Because of the quick speed of the Web, there is no lag time when you want to be informed of the latest news. You can get immediate updates on a friend or company’s status or get the best travel deals delivered right to your inbox and onto your phone. Communication is faster and more convenient, which means you don’t have to go to a certain location to receive a message because it’s all virtual.
  • Convenience. Just about anyone is able to reach a mass audience without paying for advertising. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and other social media sites allow people’s messages to be instantly heard and, if it’s interesting enough, gather a large number of responses. With this kind of mass media on the Web, fame and fortune have become easier to achieve.
  • Interaction. One good thing about the online platform is that it gives people the ability to speak and express themselves freely. It also helps companies find out what their fans and consumers directly like through crowd sourcing, which is an effective way to reach out to people without having to pay for focus groups or research.
  • Job opportunities. The Web makes it easier to earn income and creates more avenues for success because of the ability to reach a mass audience without much cost. In addition, creating a site does not require programming knowledge and is inexpensive. With an appealing and useful site or blog, anyone has the opportunity to generate income, whether it’s through affiliate advertising programs, sponsors or personal online stores, as with Etsy.com.

The Negative Impact of Mass Media on the Web

  • Information overload. Because there’s so much information available on the Internet for the mass public, we can literally learn anything—but too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. It gives anyone, crazy or mentally unstable, the tools and resources to potentially harm others.
  • Impatience. We no longer have to wait for yesterday’s news to arrive in front of our doorsteps. Instead, we can access up-to-the-minute news online. And with a page loading time that is less than a second, we are more prone to get impatient because we’re so accustomed to seeing and getting things instantly.
  • Safety issues. The Web is one of the best and easiest mediums out there to communicate with the masses. However, there is no way of filtering information to a specific age group, which makes it unsafe for children who may accidentally stumble upon an inappropriate site.

Though there are negative repercussions to this mass medium tool, there are far more benefits. As a result of this online platform, the world is more informed, life is more convenient and we have more ability to speak and express ourselves while still being heard.