Pinghao- Have the New Media changed our lives for the better?

New media has helped our society gain broader perspectives and become more knowledgeable about worldly matters instead of being restricted to their own countries and communities. This is due to the increased transparency and accessibility of information and ideas now shared, which was made possible by new media. For example, anyone who has a question can now simply post it on an online forum and receive their views answers from online users all over the world. Answers from various perspectives can then be obtained and discussed. An example of this is STOMP, a widely used forum page to discuss various issues pertaining to the world today. Online blogs by people on their views of various issues are also accessible to anyone who wants to read it, through websites such as Blogger and Livejournal. This allows readers to gain a new perception of things. Users may use this information and new ideas to improve their own lives. However, some may argue that information provided by online users are unverified and thus cannot be depended on. Users may end up receiving the wrong information as not all online answers come from professionals. However, our society is rapidly becoming media-literate and are able to discern what information is right and what is wrong for themselves. This is especially true for youths, who rely on new media the most. New media provides a platform for the sharing and discussion of ideas and information, but ultimately, it is up to the users to decide whether or not to use the information provided. Thus, new media has changed our lives for the better as it provides the opportunity for people to gain broader perspectives.