The Internet vs the established media.

[Excel]

Has anyone ever noticed that the Internet now strongly challenges TV, radio and magazines. Where Internet encourages individualism and affords one the opportunity to hear divergent opinions. One also becomes aware of information that is suppressed by the mainstream media. The old media is becoming increasingly ever more irrelevant as the Internet becomes the core Median.
The Internet has the power to create vibrant communities where people all over the world can gather to discuss interest that they share.

So would you agree that the Internet poses a serious challenge to the established media?

[Berossus]

It depends, I think. I think you are right that the internet provides opportunities for social organization and allows for alternative points of view, but I don't think that necessarily poses a threat to the mainstream media.

I view the mainstream media as part of a complex that includes mainstream political discourse and mainstream educational institutions as well. Together this complex sets the limits of acceptable thought. While the internet does allow for divergent views, most people are not interested in joining a divergent viewpoint, but are interested in conforming to the social group because gaining prestige in the social group maximizes their access to wealth/status/sex, etc. Also, the internet can be used to reinforce mainstream discourse just as much as challenge it.

I think people who get involved in forums like this one are more likely to be interested in non-mainstream subjects, and the internet allows for accomodating such interests. But I think that it will be a long while before either internet media replaces mainstream media, or changes the structure of discourse.