The Media Snacking Generation
Continuing a theme begun on Monday, I wanted to opine about a YouTube link that a friend sent me. The narrator’s accent alone is enough to make you listen. For this American, it certainly added a touch of sophistication or at least some gravitas.
The video is an introduction to MediaSnackers a “website/we blog/project for people interested in how young people consume and create media across the globe.”
Like Professor Wesch’s video, this one explores and embraces the way new media is changing the world. This homage however touches on the role of technology and how kids are appropriating content and using gadgets and devices.
So is snacking an apt metaphor for the digital age? Check out Greg Verdino’s Media Snacking: The Poll or Wired’s March cover story – Snack Attack - Manifesto for a New Age. Certainly when it comes to food, we are a fast food nation. But is information, news, or entertainment served up in quick, bite size pieces nutritious or even sustainable?
No question, the combination of fatty foods, television and video games is creating an obesity epidemic in the Western World at the same time we are starving for connections with family and friends. Friends are in fact the new currency as any MySpace devotee will attest. There is even FamilyTableTime.com, a website devoted to valuing the family table again and reconnecting as a family.
So much for long meals and great conversation. This media hungry generation wants its information now and on the go. And by the way, this generation is not the exclusive domain of young people. I know plenty of adults who snack on YouTube, Tivo and iPods.
But non-snackers don’t despair. Snacking on media and technology has its place. This new way of communicating and accessing information is creating a veritable explosion of content and bringing people around the world together in new and exciting ways. And besides how many five course meals can one person really eat? Shorter and quicker are sometimes better. Remember, as Wired Magazine points out, one of the greatest speeches ever was only 272 words and two minutes long – Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.
Let me get back to you.
Technorati Tags: Wired Magazine; Media Snackers; New Media; FamilyTableTime; Michael Wesch;
Loved your analysis of the MediaSnacking meme - says very much what we've been trying to say/illustrate in a credible and effective paraphrase.
Keep in touch.
DK
PS Just checked out "Lincolns' Gettysburg address" - being from the UK it threw me a litte - great stuff! (Comment this)