Digital culture takes over the world, read all about it!
As we go about each day, we come across digital images and networks that catch our time and interest. Digital culture is a phase of communication technologies, primarily linked to digital devices (computers, phones, tablets) and media (Wikipedia). While being part of a community, users can create and distribute content, share news, and communicate with desired users with the use of most electronics. Social media and advertising campaigns are widely known to influence this culture that dominates most of the population, consuming most of our time and passively changing our opinions on miscellaneous products.
Danah Boyd refers to the term “digital native” in her article on ethnography, explaining what it means to be a native within a networked world. Natives do not refer to the term “going online”, they see it as part of reality and use technology to communicate with others more effectively, as opposed to travelling to someone’s home or work place. Think of it this way, would you rather open your phone and text a friend instantly that lives 2 hours away asking how they are doing, or plan a road trip to visit them for one day? Younger generations today rely on their devices to get through everyday situations, essentially society functions off digital communication and entertainment.
To put digital culture into perspective, think of all the times you see people on the bus or in the Commons for example, looking down at their phones, paying no attention to their surroundings. Selfies are posted to Instagram and Facebook. Viral content spreads across platforms. Advertising tricks users with click-bait. Nowadays you find people relaxing in Starbucks or McDonald’s ‘mooching’ off free WiFi. Back in the old days, you would see people communicating face-to-face, or reading a physical book for entertainment. Now — a seven-year-old owns a tablet that they use for YouTube and Minecraft videos. These examples give insight on how important technology and communications plays a role in many lives, mainly with the amount of access one has with the internet. You can endlessly read and watch content on a tablet, a magazine on the other hand — give it ten minutes.
