Communication Theories - Essay Example

Communication Theories Neil Postman, considered as the father of media ecology defines media ecology as “how media of communication affect human perception, understanding, feeling, and value; and how our interaction with media facilitates or impedes our chances of survival. It tries to find out what roles media force us to play, how media structure what we are seeing, why media make us feel and act as we do.” (Postman 1). Whereas media before only refers to television, radio, magazines and newspapers, it has now evolved into a field of a much wider scope.

With the fast pace of modern technology and the era of globalization, media is now more encompassing as to include the various social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. Social networking has a great impact in the lives of people all over the world today. Communication has become easier and more convenient. Since media ecology studies the interaction between people and the modes of communication as facilitated by modern technology, one can clearly see its impact on the different social networking sites.

It looks into the development of human relationships among the people who use the social networking sites. It is through the social networking sites where people of different culture relate with each other sans geographical boundaries. Media ecology has influenced social networking sites which have developed its own unique language, acronyms and symbols. One foresees media ecology to further intensify its role in the rapid growth of social networking sites.Works CitedPostman, Neil. "What is media ecology?" 2009. Media Ecology Association Web site.

11 October 2011 .