Emerging technological developments and forms of communication such as the Internet and smartphones are changing the way that popular culture is both produced and consumed. Our social world is becoming shaped by these emergent technologies through such widespread use of devices such as smartphones and tablets. Through these devices and technologically advanced gadgets, the use of such applications like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter and so on, are becoming the main source of information of what is seen as ‘popular’ and emergent in the modern era. This in turn redefines how many social aspects like how people communicate, the nature of social relationships and the use of public and domestic space is practiced. Through the analysis of smartphones,
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Quester et al. (2014, pp.227) shows that Australians are embracing online technology in their homes, with the average person’s everyday viewing behaviour now involving multiple screens and various media including mobile phones, television, radio or print media as well as computers. As there are more access points to information and the Internet, more attention is drawn to trends and what is currently ‘popular.’ With the increased penetration of mobile phones and thus, the Internet in societies, there is a large growth in the use of mobile phones especially among the youth and the specific social/cultural context in which they are used in must be considered. Slater (2001) identified four key properties commonly associated with the Internet which include virtuality, spirituality, disembedding and disembodiment. With an example drawing from Trinidad, these natives use the Internet in a number of ordinary ways to integrate into their existing social life while drawing from their patriotic, entrepreneurial and liberating values (Miller & Slater 2000, pp.2). With this newfound way of accessing information through the Internet, it is being dubbed as ‘new media technologies’ by Slater (2001), with the telephone and television being regarded as ‘older …show more content…
Cayari (2011, pp. 1) labels YouTube as a powerful space that promotes new ways to consume, create, and share videos, in particularly, music. Through using YouTube, a sharing community is created and facilitated by the Internet and platforms such as email and Facebook, and this in turn is what Amidon-Lusted (2013) illustrates as something spreading ‘virally.’ Amidon-Lusted (2013) dubbed this the “YouTube Effect” as more and more people share it though YouTube because it is the most popular site to share videos. As the video becomes popular through sharing via various Internet sites and social media, the individuals or whatever is featured in the video becomes popular, and thus becomes embedded into everyday culture. Viral videos are becoming a medium for more than sudden popularity and fame and as Uwire (2013, p.1) states, they are becoming almost mainstream. For instance, Psy’s Gangnam Style is the most watched video on YouTube as it currently exceeds two billion views (McIntyre 2014). His worldwide success has altered the way popular culture is produced and consumed because not only is that one video being constantly shared, but in addition to that, memes, other funny videos imitating the song, otherwise known as parodies, are becoming
Quester et al. (2014, pp.227) shows that Australians are embracing online technology in their homes, with the average person’s everyday viewing behaviour now involving multiple screens and various media including mobile phones, television, radio or print media as well as computers. As there are more access points to information and the Internet, more attention is drawn to trends and what is currently ‘popular.’ With the increased penetration of mobile phones and thus, the Internet in societies, there is a large growth in the use of mobile phones especially among the youth and the specific social/cultural context in which they are used in must be considered. Slater (2001) identified four key properties commonly associated with the Internet which include virtuality, spirituality, disembedding and disembodiment. With an example drawing from Trinidad, these natives use the Internet in a number of ordinary ways to integrate into their existing social life while drawing from their patriotic, entrepreneurial and liberating values (Miller & Slater 2000, pp.2). With this newfound way of accessing information through the Internet, it is being dubbed as ‘new media technologies’ by Slater (2001), with the telephone and television being regarded as ‘older …show more content…
Cayari (2011, pp. 1) labels YouTube as a powerful space that promotes new ways to consume, create, and share videos, in particularly, music. Through using YouTube, a sharing community is created and facilitated by the Internet and platforms such as email and Facebook, and this in turn is what Amidon-Lusted (2013) illustrates as something spreading ‘virally.’ Amidon-Lusted (2013) dubbed this the “YouTube Effect” as more and more people share it though YouTube because it is the most popular site to share videos. As the video becomes popular through sharing via various Internet sites and social media, the individuals or whatever is featured in the video becomes popular, and thus becomes embedded into everyday culture. Viral videos are becoming a medium for more than sudden popularity and fame and as Uwire (2013, p.1) states, they are becoming almost mainstream. For instance, Psy’s Gangnam Style is the most watched video on YouTube as it currently exceeds two billion views (McIntyre 2014). His worldwide success has altered the way popular culture is produced and consumed because not only is that one video being constantly shared, but in addition to that, memes, other funny videos imitating the song, otherwise known as parodies, are becoming