A Study on the Role of the Media and Its Effect on the Identity of Muslims (Part Two)
A Brief Overview of the History of Mass Media
A look at the historical developments of media on the brink of the 21st century reveals the extent to which human thought depends on communication tools. From language, the first means of communication, to complex information transmission tools such as electronic lines and satellites, these tools positively and negatively influence the formation of identity.
In today’s world, amidst daily distractions, mass communication tools and public media play a significant role in entertaining people, raising awareness, and providing time for self-reflection. Therefore, it is crucial to be discerning when choosing and using them.
Public media takes various forms, including newspapers, radio, television, cinema, satellites, and the internet. In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the history of social media, encompassing the early pioneers of electronic communication to the social media platforms that dominate the internet today.
Newspapers
The medium that was supposed to change the world had its first activity in 1605 in Strasbourg, making its entrance into the vast arena of information dissemination. A newspaper provides daily news and information across various cultural, artistic, sports, political, and economic domains to different segments of society. Newspapers are always published in written form, and this written nature has both positive and negative effects; however, those in charge of newspapers strive to realize its positive impacts.
Radio
In 1895, Guglielmo Marconi discovered a way to send messages via radio over significant distances from his father’s estate in Italy. This invention marked the beginning of remarkable advancements in electronic communication.
Television
The most widely viewed medium globally is television, which holds a diverse and vast audience due to the simultaneous presence of sound and image. In recent years, the addition of live broadcasting options has further enhanced its appeal. However, television initially attracted little attention when it entered developing countries; some even regarded it as an intruder within the family environment. Over time, it gradually found its place in households. Yet, in the fast-paced passage of time and the emergence of various inventions, mobile phones have seemingly replaced television, as smartphones have gained a compelling allure with their ability to utilize images in all spheres. Television has the potential to relatively change the culture of society; today, the middle class in communities lacking satellite connections uses television as the best mass medium. Critiques and opinions about this medium have always been more numerous and contentious than those concerning other media. Even newspapers and magazines often rely on television and its programs to attract more audiences, finding a way into the hearts of viewers through its mediation.
Satellites
The first satellites were launched in 1980, equipped with 12,000 telephone circuits and only two television channels. The sixth generation, entering the market in 1986, boasted three times the capacity of the fifth generation and advanced digital systems. Television satellites (DBS) function as powerful television transmitters in space. The most significant advantage of a television satellite is its ability to cover areas that terrestrial transmitters cannot reach.
The Internet
The emergence of the internet astonished the world and captivated everyone’s attention. The establishment of the ARPANET in 1969 is recognized as the internet’s origin. In reality, the internet is a collection of millions of interconnected computers through telecommunications networks; it is a vast system incorporating thousands of satellite-computer networks connecting many computers into a large, complex, and reliable network.
The rise of internet giants such as Amazon and Netflix have led to the provision of extensive services in audio and video content. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines social networks as “forms of electronic communication, such as social networking websites and microblogging, through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content, including videos.”
While services like YouTube and Facebook readily come to mind, we can trace the origins of social media back to the late 1970s.
Facebook
In 2004, Facebook (initially named The Facebook) was launched. Mark Zuckerberg developed the Facebook application to connect with fellow Harvard students, leading to a surge in its popularity. By the end of 2004, it had attracted over one million users. Since then, this social network has become the second-largest social media platform globally, boasting three billion users.
Twitter
In 2006, Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, Biz Stone, and Noah Glass launched Twitter. Their idea was simple: to allow users to send short messages of up to 140 characters to friends and acquaintances. Now, Twitter has a user base of 436 million, allowing tweets of up to 280 characters, along with images and videos.
Instagram
Launched in 2010 by founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Instagram entered the virtual world as a photo and video-sharing service. Acquired by Facebook in 2012, it now has 4.1 billion users and has expanded its features to include live video streaming and shoppable posts.
Telegram
Founded by Nikolai and Pavel Durov in 2013, Telegram focuses on providing instant messaging and secure voice calls. It currently boasts over 700 million users.
Tik Tok
Tik Tok (Douyin) was launched internationally in 2017 after being acquired by ByteDance and merging with Musical.ly. Recognized as the primary destination for short mobile videos, it has over one billion users and the highest downloads worldwide.
Clubhouse
In 2020, Paul Davison and Rohan Seth designed Clubhouse as a social network for hosting audio chat rooms. Initially, it operated by invitation only, but it is now accessible to everyone, supporting both Apple and Android users. As of February 2021, it had ten million active users weekly. Unfortunately, not all social networks have achieved long-term success; some prominent names in the history of social media had a short lifespan and faded away quickly.
What we witness today is a shift in how media is utilized. The internet has completely transformed the landscape for mass media and group communication, presenting significant challenges alongside its benefits. Consequently, many companies have made substantial investments in this field. One notable trend is the increased budget for content; major online networks allocate considerable resources for producing audio and video content. For example, Netflix spent approximately $9 billion on production in 2017. It is worth noting that most of these companies’ content production revenues come from advertising (Ofcom, 2018).
Online social media has become one of the most popular internet applications in the last decade. Social media enables individuals and companies to create, share, and exchange information, ideas, and content in virtual communities and network platforms through digital tools. The success of social media leaders and the establishment of robust social media networks in various countries provide an excellent platform for marketers to build strong relationships with audiences, understand their needs, and identify consumer behaviors. Given the infrastructure provided by social networks, many organizations and large companies have shifted towards digitization and employed this infrastructure for their marketing and advertising efforts.
