Original Article (UK Canvas)

The overarching theme appears to be that of political and consumptive entities re-adapting to “new-media”.

Q1. Does any adaptation need to be made at all?

While it is true information is more fragmented and entities must compete in ever wider arenas, an opposing argument could be made politics is business as usual. The splitting trend of ideology continues at an arguably accelerated rate, while third parties, theoretically empowered by new media hold less sway at the polls than they they once did even before the rise of television.

Q2. How best to consolidate the influx of information?

A growing issue with evolving media is that of the common vernacular: “Information overload”. Perhaps though, a more fitting appellation is “input overload”. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumbler, Google, the blog sphere, all these and many more vie for increasing shares of a finite resource – attention. Add to that ever evolving techniques for insertion of advertising and subjectivity into all forms of media new or old. The end result is a potentially horrifying mix of misinformation and utter consumer apathy.

So what then is the best technique to resolve or at least slow the tide. Technology solutions range from the mundane concepts of auto dissemination up to disruptive new innovations hoping to change the way we access information. Consolidate your news feed to one coherent screen from dozens of sources today – download a filtered stream directly to your conscious tomorrow.

If that sounds far fetched – it is. Technology is nebulous and ever changing. Each generation tends to pat itself on the back for sitting on the bleeding edge while laughing at the poor Luddites who came before – only to be the next laughing stock tomorrow. So it goes that we’re unlikely to find a permanent solution using technology alone.

Perhaps regulatory? I’m not sure I’d even want to breech thins one – freedom of the press, for all the issues it enables, is a necessity to maintaining a reasonably free society.

This in my opinion only leaves the individual to assume responsibility. It is in turn up to us as a whole society to educate ourselves and upcoming generations to view all sources with a critical eye and open mind at once.