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(2) Convergence: With a device in your are the editor of your own material? How
hand, you can access a wide range of media. many of us are conscious that every post we
Mobile phones are not just for making calls publish in new media is distributed in a larger
or sending messages; they can also be used public space? Many of us receive numerous
for watching TV programs, listening to music, forwarded messages on our social media appli-
social networking, using e-libraries, and cations, and we forward them to others without
browsing websites. a second thought. On many occasions, we fail
to ensure the authenticity of the content before
(3) Accessibility: One characteristic of new forwarding it. Many of us blindly believe com-
media is its widespread availability and low ments, views, and manipulated information as
cost. When people have access to high-speed authentic. The same platform that revolution-
internet data and low-cost devices, they can ised our lives can also make us susceptible to
instantly access a broad array of media con- doubt, confusion, and fallacy.
tent. In such a “free service” world, media pro-
ducers’ main source of revenue is subscription Evaluating the credibility of media con-
charges and advertisements tent on new media platforms has become an
important issue for media users. Conventional
(4) Audience power: The appropriate term media platforms, such as newspapers, radio,
to describe every media consumer is “user.” and television channels, have editorial bodies
Users have the power to influence media con- that ensure the authenticity and validity of the
tent by choosing which programs to watch content they publish or broadcast. These plat-
and on which platform to view them. In the forms have mechanisms in place to promote
domain of new media, there is plenty of scope transparency. However, the situation on social
for interaction, discussion, and self-broadcast- media, which is an important part of the new
ing, which makes users more powerful and media landscape, is quite alarming these days.
influential. It becomes dangerous when the content leads to

Social media platforms play a dominant role violence, breaking social harmony and public
in our social lives. The diagram 4.3.2 illustrates order. We have all read many reports of com-
various types of social media platforms, with munal and ethnic clashes ignited by rumors
examples provided in the brackets. and false news spread through social media.
How does this happen? This question leads
4�3�1 Authenticity of new media us to serious issues regarding the authenticity
Technological sophistication has made and credibility of social media. Verbal abuse,
media access much easier today. Our relation- incitement to violence, and vulgar comments
ship with the outside world is now defined by that tarnish the modesty of people, especially
the cell phones and other smart gadgets that we women, are rampant in our cyberspace. If you
carry with us. However, when these devices open a local daily, you will come across reports
allow individuals to go beyond the role of just of such misuse of new media every day.
receiving information or consuming entertain- While the privilege to broadcast strengthens
ment to becoming broadcasters in the absence the idea of self-expression among individuals,
of an editor, issues can arise. Have you thought it also raises questions of authenticity. It is dif-
about it before posting a comment on Face- ficult to verify the truth behind the media con-
book or broadcasting a story on Instagram? tent we receive every minute. The plethora of

Are you aware that in the cyberspace, you new media fills our gadgets with news, views,

SGOU - FYUGP - SLM - English for Communication 173