Topic > The Importance of Media and Technology - 1238

When it comes to individuals, the transition to electronic media has had a huge effect. Individuals were passive observers when it came to print, unless they were authors themselves. Now, with the advent of Facebook and other social media sites, individuals are no longer the creators of content. People can share all types of information with almost anyone via the Internet and increased connectivity. Individuals were able to come together through social media, the Internet and smartphones to mobilize the “Occupy Wall Street” movement and, more recently, also the “99%” movement, as like-minded individuals sought each other out to oppose to economic inequality. With the shift from print to digital media has also come the mass collection of personal data. Individuals are increasingly sharing information not only with each other but also with financial institutions and retail outlets. This information can and will be shared by these entities to sell people items and services in which they may be interested or have been interested in in the past. This has raised concerns about cybersecurity and the rights of individuals