Viral Video Development from Technology Determinism

Abstract

            Through new media, videos are produced and shared to viewers rapidly, called viral videos. These viral videos are based on technology determinism concept.  According to technology determinism, it is said that the discovery of technology innovation and development makes change to society. These video have distinct  presentation techniques and contents, and they usually capture unusual or strange events. Pictures and sounds attract viewers’ interest to watch the video, and share with friends or network. Then the videos are ‘viral’, which means widely and rapidly circulated.

            The rapid transmission of information changes the way of communication. Traditionally, there was the limitation of mass media channel within the country, but nowadays people can communicate beyond borders via the Internet. The comparison between traditional media and new media are mentioned in 4 aspects.The senders in traditional media limit to the group of people who have communication channel. New media everybody can be a message sender. The messages in the traditional media have to pass the screening process before disseminated to the public. However, from the independence of new media, some information is checked and some is not. In traditional media, the communication channels are limited, so that time and place of delivering message are fixed. people can be both senders and receivers, since there are several channels open on the Internet, connecting all people in the world. The audience cannot receive pictures and sounds everywhere, contrary to new media, which messages are easily accessed through internet network.