The Digital Phase of the Sociopolitical Development of Society: Basic Characteristics of Digital Media as Information and Communication Technologies of a New Generation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the basic characteristics of “digital media” and changes in the nature of media communications under the influence of digital media. The purpose of the study is achieved by applying a systematic approach, which allows considering the object of research as an integral phenomenon, which is associated with various aspects of society in many aspects. The interdisciplinary approach, used in conjunction with the structural–functional approach, also turned out to be optimal. The methods were used to identify the structural differences between old and new media, served to identify the main characteristics of the functioning of digital technologies used in modern media. The originality of the work lies in the fact that digitalization, which is a complex and poorly studied phenomenon, is investigated. The phenomenon of digitalization is a new concept in science—therefore, it is necessary to study not only the basic characteristics of digital media but also the imperatives of the globally changed nature of media communications, because the modern world is unrecognizably changing—simultaneously with the processes of influence of digitalization on society, causing the formation of a certain social and political identity under the influence this phenomenon. The authors focus on the increased possibilities of digital media, due to the subjects of digitalization purposefully and effectively use them, thereby determining fundamental changes in the sociopolitical landscape of countries. As a result of the study, it is concluded that modern trends in the development of the information society demonstrate the capabilities of new media, which are expressed in the strengthening of their influence on behavioral practices in the socioeconomic and political spheres. From this moment, digital media can purposefully and very effectively construct socioeconomic and political reality, and this is often done with specific tasks of media owners. In addition, this can be said about digitalization in all industries, including industries that haven’t historically been associated with digital media. Accordingly, digital media can rightfully be called a kind of a structure-forming factor in modern society. Finally, it is emphasized that digitalization has penetrated all spheres of human life: health care, electronic branches of governments, systemic general education, higher education, finance, economics, industry, including the military, sociocultural sphere, etc.