Editing Digital media (section)

===Individual as content creator===
{{see also|Social impact of YouTube}}
[[File:Canon EOS M Blogger Event 02 cropped.jpg|thumb|Average camera of a YouTube blogger, a Canon EOS]]

Digital media has also allowed individuals to be much more active in [[content creation]].<ref name="pew-new">{{cite web|last=Horrigan|first=John|title=A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users|url=http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/A-Typology-of-Information-and-Communication-Technology-Users/Summary-of-Findings.aspx|publisher=Pew Internet and American Life Study|date=May 2007|access-date=2014-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112191018/http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/A-Typology-of-Information-and-Communication-Technology-Users/Summary-of-Findings.aspx|archive-date=2014-01-12|url-status=dead}}</ref> Anyone with access to computers and the Internet can participate in [[social media]] and contribute their own writing, art, videos, photography and commentary to the Internet, as well as conduct business online. The dramatic reduction in the costs required to create and share content have led to a democratization of content creation as well as the creation of new types of content, like [[blog]]s, [[Internet meme|memes]], and [[video essay]]s. Some of these activities have also been labelled [[citizen journalism]]. This spike in user-created content is due to the development of the internet as well as the way in which users interact with media today. As more users join and use social media sites, the relevance of content creation increases.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brake |first=David R. |date=2014-04-01 |title=Are We All Online Content Creators Now? Web 2.0 and Digital Divides* |url=https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12042 |journal=Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=591–609 |doi=10.1111/jcc4.12042 |s2cid=35491 |issn=1083-6101}}</ref> The release of technologies such mobile devices allow for easier and quicker access to all things media.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pavlik|first1=John|last2=McIntosh|first2=Shawn|title=Converging Media|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-934230-3|pages=237–239|edition=Fourth|year=2014}}</ref> Many media creation tools that were once available to only a few are now free and easy to use. The cost of devices that can access the Internet is steadily falling, and personal ownership of multiple digital devices is now becoming the standard. These elements have significantly affected political participation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ypp.dmlcentral.net/sites/all/files/publications/YPP_Survey_Report_FULL.pdf |last=Cohen |first=Cathy J. |author2=Joseph Kahne |title=Participatory politics: new media and youth political action |date=2012 |publisher=Youth & Participatory Politics |access-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407033117/http://ypp.dmlcentral.net/sites/all/files/publications/YPP_Survey_Report_FULL.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2015}}</ref> Digital media is seen by many scholars as having a role in [[Arab Spring]], and crackdowns on the use of digital and social media by embattled governments are increasingly common.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelley|first=Peter|title=Philip Howard's new book explores digital media role in Arab Spring|url=http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/06/13/philip-howards-new-book-explores-digital-media-role-in-arab-spring/|access-date=30 March 2014|newspaper=University of Washington|date=13 June 2013|archive-date=26 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326123003/http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/06/13/philip-howards-new-book-explores-digital-media-role-in-arab-spring/|url-status=live}}</ref> Many governments restrict access to digital media in some way, either to prevent [[obscenity]] or in a broader form of political [[censorship]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rininsland|first=Andrew|title=Internet censorship listed: how does each country compare?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/datablog/2012/apr/16/internet-censorship-country-list|access-date=30 March 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=16 April 2012|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407051055/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/datablog/2012/apr/16/internet-censorship-country-list|url-status=live}}</ref>

Over the years [[YouTube]] has grown to become a website with user generated media. This content is oftentimes not mediated by any company or agency, leading to a wide array of personalities and opinions online. Over the years, YouTube and other platforms have also shown their monetary gains. In 2020, the top 10 highest earning YouTube content creators each generated over 15 million dollars.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berg |first=Madeline |title=The Highest-Paid YouTube Stars Of 2020 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2020/12/18/the-highest-paid-youtube-stars-of-2020/ |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=2020-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225081104/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2020/12/18/the-highest-paid-youtube-stars-of-2020/?sh=5fb39e126e50 |url-status=live }}</ref> Many of these YouTube profiles over the years have a multi camera set up as we would see on TV. Many of these creators also creating their own digital companies as their personalities grow.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} Personal devices have also seen an increase over the years. Over 1.5 billion users of tablets exist in this world right now and that is expected to slowly grow <ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Tablet-Users-Surpass-1-Billion-Worldwide-2015/1011806|title=Tablet Users to Surpass 1 Billion Worldwide in 2015 - eMarketer|website=www.emarketer.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19|archive-date=2020-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419081815/https://www.emarketer.com/Article/Tablet-Users-Surpass-1-Billion-Worldwide-2015/1011806|url-status=live}}</ref> About 20% of people in the world regularly watch their content using tablets in 2018<ref name=":4" />

[[User-generated content]] raises issues of privacy, credibility, civility and compensation for cultural, intellectual and artistic contributions. The spread of digital media, and the wide range of [[literacy]] and communications skills necessary to use it effectively, have deepened the [[digital divide]] between those who have access to digital media and those who do not.<ref>{{cite news|last=Crawford|first=Susan P.|title=Internet access and the new digital divide|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/internet-access-and-the-new-divide.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|access-date=30 March 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=3 December 2011|archive-date=10 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410150147/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/internet-access-and-the-new-divide.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

The rising of digital media has made the consumer's audio collection more precise and personalized. It is no longer necessary to purchase an entire album if the consumer is ultimately interested in only a few audio files.