Fascinating. I agree with the analysis that the Internet is giving more power to 'voters' because the content that gets talked about the most (and thus voted on) is the one they consume the most. However, I think there's some nuance needed with that model.
The collective group of US megamedia companies have the means to focus public attention on topics they want, even if the population normally wouldn't be amenable. I don't think it's as cut and dry as 'I, a rational person with wholly my own thoughts and feelings, consume and internalize the media I want rather than what's shown to me.' Rather, the media I am exposed to plays a part in shaping my beliefs, even if it's subconscious, and media companies have strategies to get their stuff in my face.
As a population, the Internet has both given us a wealth of information and taught us to rely more and more on intuition as the sheer quantity of knowledge is far too much to handle.
As a side note, Facebook has already admitted to toying with its users emotions. I would not be very surprised if they have some 'variables' they can 'tweak' to bias their users. The authors benevolent assumption could just very well be wrong.
If someone consumes their news via Facebook/Snapchat and either doesn't have cable or has cable and a dvr, how do megamedia companies have the ability to focus attention? You can easily opt out of pretty much all media advertising if you want these days.
Agreed that it's possible to opt out at the individual level (I do so, myself). However, the people I interact with talk about the topics covered by the media with me. In a way they are acting as a 2nd order part of the megamedia companies by refocusing my attention, both IRL and online. This is obviously a weaker link than directly watching cable, but still there nonetheless.
The collective group of US megamedia companies have the means to focus public attention on topics they want, even if the population normally wouldn't be amenable. I don't think it's as cut and dry as 'I, a rational person with wholly my own thoughts and feelings, consume and internalize the media I want rather than what's shown to me.' Rather, the media I am exposed to plays a part in shaping my beliefs, even if it's subconscious, and media companies have strategies to get their stuff in my face.
As a population, the Internet has both given us a wealth of information and taught us to rely more and more on intuition as the sheer quantity of knowledge is far too much to handle.
As a side note, Facebook has already admitted to toying with its users emotions. I would not be very surprised if they have some 'variables' they can 'tweak' to bias their users. The authors benevolent assumption could just very well be wrong.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/technology/facebook-tin...