The Impact of Online Media

With the convergence of technology and information, society has since become very much dependent on the Internet. Online media has affected nations and how political parties communicate their party agenda to the masses. With more and more people on the move, it is a natural progression for the masses to move away from mainstream media only and adopt online media.

Facebook is one good example of how people today connect and communicate in our digital society. Almost all mobile phone manufacturers now have apps that help users connect through their phones. Friends are made and updates on personal information are all done through it in a blink of an eye, with a press of a button. It has reached an impressive 500 million user base and has become so integrated into our lives that some swear they “cant live without it”.

Facebook's User Growth

Facebook's World Wide Growth

Another example is Wikileaks, the now infamous whistle-blowing website. The information it has “shared” through the web has recently left many governments, especially the United States of America, racing to do damage control. By leaking confidential and/or secret government cables, many secrets, truths and lies are now out and has potentially damaged many foreign relationships between countries.

Screenshot from WikiLeaks's Website

In Singapore, reported by the Temasek Review, an online newspaper / blog - Since Datuk Seri Najib Razak assumed the office of Prime Minister of Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia have been experiencing the warming of diplomatic ties. But for how much longer? Wikileaks leaked a diplomatic cable between Singapore’s Foreign Ministry and the U.S. to the Australian newspaper, Sunday Morning Herald. They were quoted to be making disparaging remarks about the Najib administration, which may also affect US foreign policy and attitude towards Malaysia. How this will turn out, we are still unsure, but this is another very good example on how massive an impact online media has on the world - it brings with it immense knowledge and knowledge is power.

Screenshot from Temasek Review's Website

It is, without a doubt, that online media has become one of the most powerful tools of this era.

References

Temasek Review, 12 December 2010, WikiLeaks: Singapore diplomats told US officials Malaysia lacks competent leadership, viewed 20 Feburary 2011, <http://www.temasekreview.com/2010/12/12/wikileaks-singapore-diplomats-told-us-officials-malaysia-lacks-competent-leadership/>

WikiLeaks, viewed 19 Feburary 2011, <http://213.251.145.96/>