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Digital Media
Date: 2023
From: Gale Middle School Online Collection
Publisher: Gale, part of Cengage Group
Document Type: Topic overview
Length: 797 words
Content Level: (Level 4)
Lexile Measure: 1160L
Full Text:
Digital Media Students sit together using digital
devices. Digital media is a broad category that includes any form of media that uses a digital device for distribution. Ground
Picture/Shutterstock.com
Digital media is a broad category that includes any form of media that uses a digital device for distribution. It includes web pages and
websites, social media, software, electronic books, video games, and digital images, data, and video. Individuals and organizations
use digital media to communicate information. This information may come in the form of audio or video recordings, written articles,
social media posts, website content, and much more. Digital media content is developed, edited, distributed, and viewed on digital
devices.
Fast Facts
More than 90 percent of American adults are internet users.
The majority of US news outlets distribute a digital newsletter and use social media to engage users.
Digital advertising income has grown significantly every year since 2011.
Types of Digital Media
Many types of digital media exist. These various types of digital media can be used to distribute information easily online to a large
audience. Digital news can include audio and video interviews, news reports, and written articles that can be published on the web.
Electronic reading devices allow users to consume another type of digital media. Individuals can download books, magazines, and
other digital print media on the devices and view them. Video games and computer-based games are types of digital media intended
to entertain.
Digital radio stations, audiobooks, and podcasts are examples of audio-based digital media. Streaming audio services allow users to
listen to their favorite songs, podcasts, radio shows, and more digitally. Other digital media outlets deliver content in video format,
including websites that allow users to upload and share videos. Streaming television and movie service providers offer many types of
digital media in the broad video category.
Social media is perhaps one of the most popular forms of digital media. Websites and apps allow users to connect, chat, share
photos and videos, and upload content from their devices. Moreover, social media is used by traditional media companies to share
digital news and information with users. Traditional media organizations include newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and
television news stations. While social media is a type of digital media itself, it also serves as a platform for the distribution of other
types of media.
Digital advertisements are another key element of digital media. Companies use advertisements on a variety of web-based platforms,
including on websites and apps, to attract new customers and share information on products and services.
Connections: Podcasts
Podcasts are digital audio recordings that are published on the internet. Podcasts touch on a variety of topics including true crime,
sports, and hobbies. They are created in episodic format, allowing listeners to stream or download episodes once they are released.
Listeners can stream podcasts on digital devices, such as their smartphones, which allows people to listen to them on the go. In
2023, more than three million podcasts were available for streaming worldwide.
Industries That Use Digital Media
Digital media has become a mainstay in the technological age, so many industries have incorporated it into their functions.
Educational institutions use digital media to share content and lessons with students through apps and websites. The health care
industry allows patients to access health records, order prescription refills, and make appointment requests online. Traditional news
organizations produce content for the web, including audio and video reports. Financial institutions allow users to manage their
money using websites or apps. Restaurants publish their menus online and accept reservations and online ordering.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Digital Media
Digital access to information offers many advantages to media organizations and the individuals accessing the content. The ease of
publishing information on the internet or sharing it through social media sites or apps expands access to information. Individuals can
consume information from their home computer or smartphone, ensuring that they stay connected and informed. Greater access to
information can create a better-informed population.
Digital media content can be more compelling and engaging than print alternatives. For example, websites can include video and
audio recordings to enhance news stories to improve viewers’ understanding and capture their attention. The multimedia format
allows digital media organizations to use creative concepts to attract users. Digital media also encourages users to interact across
digital platforms, offering new ways to socialize and engage with a community. Finally, digital access to news and information
reduces the need for print products, making it an eco-friendly alternative.
Digital media has a number of disadvantages as well. The ease of creating content allows anyone to create and share content. This
content may be misleading or false. Digital media is easily shared, so false or misleading information can reach a wide audience who
may believe it to be true. Those who wish to correct or debunk such information may be unable to slow or stop its spread.
Words to Know
audiobooks
Voice recordings of the text of a book stored in an audio file.
debunk
Expose as false.
digital
Electronic technology.
media
Means of communication including radio, television, print, and the internet.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2024 Gale, part of Cengage Group
Source Citation (MLA 9th Edition)
"Digital Media." Gale Middle School Online Collection, Gale, 2023. Gale In Context: Middle School,
link.gale.com/apps/doc/GFVDFW558255539/MSIC?u=p_ocls&sid=bookmark-MSIC&xid=fe167e48. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Gale Document Number: GALE|GFVDFW558255539
