Gimme Culture

rhizomatica:

This demonstrates a very real decline of traditional media (landlines) in favour of new media (internet access).  As more and more people use cell phones and laptops to access the internet, a wireless network makes more sense in that it places less burden on the cellular data traffic.  Following the data from the Pew Research Center, the increased accessibility to internet access will result in more internet usage by those from the lowest income classes. (Lenhart, et al. 2010)  As a result, we can expect to see more people joining social networks from lower incomes.  Children from families with lower incomes are already more prevalent on social networks than those of the same age group from wealthier families.(Lenhart, et al. 2010)  As a result, the increased accessibility will most likely see the those with lower incomes access the internet with the same level of regularity as those from wealthier families.

Children from lower income families are possibly more likely to use social networks than those with wealthier families because they are more likely to need affordable means to establish their identity.  Whereas a wealthier child may be able to afford physical signifiers of their identity, such as clothing or gadgets, poorer children are more likely to use digital representations to establish their identity.  Additionally, there is no cost to reposting images or creating online personas to authentically establish one as a celebrity.  A poor child can post as much as a rich child; there are no longer restrictions on authentic signifiers. 

The future celebrity is as likely to be rich, poor, male, female, or of various different races and thanks to the increase in availability of Wi-Fi connections, they will all have a more equitable access to the internet and the means of accessing these social networks.  We are seeing equalization in the means of celebrity.

 

 Lenhart, Amanda, Kristen Purcell, Aaron Smith, and Kathryn Zickuhr. Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults. Pew Internet & American Life Project, Washington: Pew Research Center, 2010

unconsumption:

Via emergentfutures:

China to Convert Phone Booths to Wifi Hotspots

With mobile phones nearing 100% market penetration, the Chinese government appears determined to transform the country’s widespread telephone booths into wifi hotspots.

via @Competia

Full Story: ReadWriteWeb