The Democratization of Everything: How Social Media is Changing Our Lives

Introduction

The emergence of social media, particularly Digg.com, has transformed the way millions of people access and consume news. Traditional media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television have lost their monopoly on news dissemination and are now sharing the spotlight with everyday writers, bloggers and YouTubers. The gatekeepers of information have been dismantled, allowing the masses to decide what content they want to read or watch. The democratization of media is just the beginning — this concept will spread to other areas of life, including politics, entertainment, business, and more.

The Rise of Social Media

Before social media, who decided what news gets published, and who gets to read it? It was the editors, publishers, and corporations who held that power. Social media sites like Digg, however, democratized this process. Now, anyone can publish news, and the masses determine what’s hot and worth reading. In effect, social media has made everyone a journalist, and the traditional news outlets are no longer the only gatekeepers of information.

The Impact on Traditional Media Outlets

With social media’s rise, traditional media outlets have had to adapt or be left behind. They are now sharing the spotlight with everyday writers, bloggers, and YouTubers. They have to compete with the masses to produce quality content that will not only catch the attention but also earn the trust of the readers. The power balance has shifted from the publishers to the consumers, and traditional media outlets have to keep up with this new reality or lose market share.

The Democratization of Music

The democratization of music has already begun. Peer-to-peer networks have allowed people to share music online, and social media has made it possible for musicians to be discovered outside of the corporate production and distribution systems. A Digg-like site for music could serve as a platform where people could vote on what music they like best. Anybody, not just those with recording contracts, can have the chance to become popular and make it big in the music industry.

The Democratization of Movies

The democratization of movies has also started. Platforms such as YouTube have allowed more people to share their content, and entire movies can now be distributed through YouTube-like sites. As more filmmakers turn to self-publishing on the internet, it no longer requires a production and distribution company with millions of dollars to make a successful film. A Digg-like site for movies could serve as a platform where people could vote on what movies they like best. This would enable more people to access movies that do not go through the traditional production and distribution systems.

The Democratization of Television

Television shows are not exempt from being democratized. A Digg-like site for TV shows could serve as a platform where people could vote on what TV shows they like best. This could lead to a more diverse set of TV shows being developed as they are no longer limited to the preferences of the studio executives.

The Democratization of Politics

While it may seem that politics have already been democratized, with people voting on their leaders, there is still a need to democratize decision-making on specific proposals. A Digg.gov site would allow the masses to decide on issues rather than having politicians make those decisions for them. This would lead to a more vibrant democracy that is truly representative of the will of the people.

The Democratization of the Marketplace

The marketplace is another area that can be democratized. Currently, clothing companies and department stores decide what clothes are available to us. Social media could change that by creating a digital marketplace where people can go to see what clothes are hot. The same can be done for other products like cars, restaurants, gadgets, and books. Amazon and eBay are already leading the way in democratized online shopping, but there is still a lot of room for innovation in this field.

The Democratization of Work

Work is another area that could benefit from democratization. Traditionally, corporations and managers decide what work gets done, who gets paid and the workplace environment. A Digg-like site for work could give control of these decisions to the masses. This can be particularly appealing to freelancers and telecommuters who are currently working remotely. Once they get a taste of control, they are less likely to want to go back under the control of the gatekeepers.

Conclusion

The democratization of social media has opened the floodgates to a more democratic way of living. With people taking control of the decisions that affect their lives, we are moving towards a more egalitarian society. The democratization of everything, including music, movies, television, politics, and the marketplace, is forecasted to happen in the coming years. The winds of change have already started to blow in this direction, and the momentum will only continue to grow. The only question now is, are you ready for the democratization of everything?