Digital media is an integral part of our lives today. From online news portals to social media, from digital advertising to streaming services, digital media has come a long way since its inception. The history of digital media dates back to the early 1950s, when the first computer was developed. Since then, the evolution of digital media has been rapid and revolutionary.
The evolution of digital media has made a huge difference in the world we live in today. But it started decades ago, as the traditional information storage methods was in books, newspapers, magazine, and radio. As years passed, the Internet, personal computing, and digital media have given us the opportunity to manage information on a level we could only imagine. The worlds of journalism, entertainment, education, publishing, and politics have all been completely transformed by digital media, and changes how we see the world today.
There are three types of media: paid media, owned media, and earned media. Paid media consists of channels that marketers pay to use, such as TV, radio, print, and ads. With owned media, the channel/company who owns and manages their accounts, such as blogs, websites, and social media. Lastly, with earned media, is basically “free media” where it focuses on a community targeting news-worthy or viral information.
Digital storage, & Email
If you wanted to see the film Titanic, it would have to be seen on two separate VHS’s. Along with storage, there was not enough to store enough memory for computers. One of the highest amounts of memory back then was 8 GB, compared now to where there are smartphones containing from 64 GB (the lowest to 1 TB (the highest).
With the advancement new technology like powerful hard drives and mother board's, lead to new formsof digital media. Examples like video games, websites, social media, and digital content began taking the world by storm little by little and had significant impact on society and culture.
One of the earliest forms of digital media was email. The first email system was developed in 1971 by Ray Tomlinson, who used the @ symbol to separate the user’s name from the computer’s name. This allowed users to send messages between computers, forming the basis of modern-day email.
The World Wide Web, Social Media, and Streaming
The internet as we know it today started to take shape in the 1980s, with the development of the World Wide Web by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee. This allowed for the sharing of information and communication on a global scale, leading to an explosion in digital media.
The early 2000s saw the rise of social media, with the launch of sites such as Friendster and MySpace. These sites were the precursors to Facebook, which was launched in 2004 and quickly became the world’s largest social network. In recent years, other platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have also become popular.
Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu have disrupted the traditional media landscape, leading to the decline of cable TV. These services offer viewers a wide range of content at a fraction of the cost of cable TV. Digital advertising has also become a major player in the media industry, with companies such as Amazon and Google dominating the market.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the history of digital media is a fascinating one, from the early days of email to the rise of social media and streaming services. The future of digital media is sure to be even more exciting, with new technologies and platforms constantly emerging. As consumers, it’s important to stay informed about the latest developments in this constantly evolving industry.
Informative links and sources related to the topic:
- History of Email. (2021). Retrieved August 27, 2021,
- Berners-Lee, T. (1999). Weaving the Web: The Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of the World Wide Web by Its Inventor. HarperCollins.
- Boyd, D. (2012). Social Network Sites as Networked Publics: Affordances, Dynamics, and Implications. In A Networked Self: Identity, Community, and Culture on Social Network Sites (pp. 39-58). Routledge.
- Williamson, A. (2018). Streaming TV: Cable and Digital Media in the United States. Routledge.
- Digital Advertising. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2021
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