A Boy's Eye View on Consuming and Interacting with Media

A 15-year-old reminds us to get with the times.

During the last few days, a part of the internet has been lit on fire with thoughts, opinions and analysis of a 15-year-old's research notes that were released by Morgan Stanley. In typical internet fashion, most comments and articles were on poles of acceptance and rejection. The fact that teenagers, or people in general, don't like paying for things and "resent intrusive advertising on billboards, TV and the Internet" is nothing new. The news is the growing trend toward our ever-evolving experience based society and its convergence with technology.

Both sides of this debate about teenagers and the internet had polar opinions, with plenty of witty middle ground. All of them seemed to miss that we're all interacting with each other. Researching separately on the same subject to come to our own conclusions. The Internet is connecting all of us more than ever before in history. Connecting is what teenagers tend to do more than anything. As we get older, we lose touch with more modern ways of communication, opting instead for a more familiar route. Through the wide variety of media, we're bound to use the ones which are most relevant to our personal interests (and therefore the interests of those who we interact with).

Where Twitter fails and Facebook succeeds is the real personal connection with the world. Although Twitter can be a good way to pass news, information, and memes, it is similar to sending out mass-emails. There will be some replies but not nearly as much visible reaction as sending individuals messages. "Texting Twitter uses up credit, and they would rather text friends with that credit." Facebook is far more visibly interactive. Personalities thrive on Facebook. Even if you aren't actually interacting with the other person, a connection is often felt. Once interaction does take place, each action can have a reaction.

Being exposed to the world through the Internet's melting pot society has made us thirsty for unique experiences that take us out of the norm. "Most teenagers enjoy and support viral marketing, as often it creates humorous and interesting content." We're sick of boring billboards, pop-ads, and constantly being sold the same thing in the same way. Good advertising makes people talk. Any of the fore-mentioned examples won't make anyone talk unless it's witty or interesting enough to make people talk or, even better, investigate further.

It's no surprise that "going to the cinema is not usually about the film, but the experience –and getting together with friends." The theatre has long been established as a meeting place of people and minds. Though technology has enabled us to be able to download these movies on, sometimes before, the theatrical release date, often it's of low quality. Also, not everyone has an amazing home theatre system. A new way of interacting with film, and every other media, is slowly evolving.

Relatively recently, I saw an early screening of NFB and CFC funded interactive film called Late Fragment. Its an absolutely beautiful and immersing film which has a single user switching between different scenes, following different characters, and having a different experience every viewing of the film. Although this hasn't caught on in a big way yet, I think the future holds much more of projects like this. Right now only one person can interactive with the film, taking the community out of it. Once that barrier is jumped, going to the theatre will be new and exciting, even if you've seen the movie. It'll also make it harder to pirate. (Is anyone from Hollywood reading this? Less laws, more ideas!)

This aspect of the Internet, and humanity, is what interests me and makes me excited for the future. The Cooper Brothers and our friends will be releasing exciting Internet-based media sharing apps this year. Non-linear interactivity that will allow you to move pictures and video freely with friends and strangers on the internet. We hope you join us to interact with the future.