THE DIGITAL ERA IS CHARACTERISED BY THE TRANSITION FROM MASS MEDIA TO A MASS OF MEDIA

Abstract

This study investigates the big changes that the digital age has brought about in how people communicate, share information, and interact with each other. This thorough investigation covers the change from analogue to digital storage devices, the rise of a highly connected online society, and the clear decline of traditional media's dominance. These four ideas are at the heart of this era: interactivity, which encourages dynamic engagement; momentariness, which emphasises how temporary digital content is; hyper textuality, which weaves information together in a non-linear way; and convergence, which brings together different types of media on digital platforms. Getting to the bottom of how the digital age has changed everything, from how content is made and distributed to how economic models have changed and how people behave, has been the main goal of this investigation. The widespread dissemination of false information in this situation poses a major challenge in ensuring people have access to accurate information while protecting their right to free speech. Furthermore, the complex relationship between sociability and individual autonomy highlights the paradox that comes with the mixing of social interactions and personal isolation in this digital world. This study tries to help us better understand the social and cultural effects of living in the digital age by using careful analysis and academic inquiry. This paper tries to shed light on underlying dynamics, identify tensions, and describe significant changes, giving a more complete picture of the wide range of opportunities and problems that exist in the digital world that is always changing.