The power of Internet broadcasting is a subject that many have acknowledged but few have actually explored to its full potential. In a fast-paced, ever-changing world — it’s become a standard medium for some of the most prolific voices of our generation, along with some of the most entertaining. Of course it is also a new sort of beast — so rapidly expanding and built by so many hands, thoughts and ideas, that it is impossible to tame and, therefore, sometimes difficult to understand. But within the chaos, we can see certain patterns emerging and ways to create new pathways that allow us to utilise it to our benefit. Through simple applications, and a basic understanding of how to search and curate the content we’re exposed to, we can begin to use this creature to our undeniable advantage.

This is perhaps most evident in the way that we create, find and consume information — making it a perfect tool for broadcasting, a new platform for multimedia to take flight, and with it, the concepts, stories and voices of the global society. Broadcasting online is no longer an elite idea living somewhere in a distant future. It is a very real and immediate avenue, available to anyone who has Internet access and who wants to share their voice with the world.

Of course, the Internet was never meant to take on this role. It started out as a tool for the military and then academics, serving as a kind of network for classified information. However, through its growth and application to every facet of modern society, it has become the perfect place for sharing thoughts and ideas between all of humanity, as opposed to a wasted tool — kept only for select organisations.

The unstoppable momentum of online broadcasting

Radio across the airwaves needed 30 years to reach an audience of 50 million people, TV needed 13 years but the Internet only took 4. So what does this tell us? Simply put, information is no longer being controlled and owned by large, elite groups. Hubs of content have branched out faster than anyone could have imagined, not even 7 years ago, to reach almost every part of the world, right in the offices, studies, bedrooms and local cafes of the Average Joe. While traditional radio would eventually become a phenomenon in most households in the 60s and 70s, it was nowhere near as powerful or big as the reach of the Web is today.

In 1995, seemingly a lifetime but a mere 10 years ago, the first audio was streamed over the Internet. Now audiences of millions listen to podcasts that are created on a daily basis by people who lead normal lives, have other jobs and who have relatable experiences. The difference now is that they also have channels to discuss those experiences with likeminded people.

According to the Internet Census of 2012, the developing world is also jumping on board — gaining greater access to connectivity, and as a result, to new platforms for broadcasting from places that were previously left out of the global discussion. Parts of Africa, such as Botswana and South Africa for example, are growing steadily in the number of users with access to the Net. As a result, we are seeing new faces and voices emerging from these areas, like YouTube user Casper-Lee who has almost 5 million subscribers to his video channel aimed at young adults.

With the growth of online broadcasting comes an almost unfathomable opportunity for new voices to emerge. What will we do with this great new power? Will we harness it and get involved in the conversation or will we leave it to the brave to shape the global discussion? We’re routing for the former.