Not too long ago the best way to get informed was to watch the nightly 9janews on the television, listen to the radio, or read the newspaper. Things have changed dramatically over the last decade or so. With the advent of the Internet we are no longer dependent on the television or the radio for trending news. Just a few mouse clicks and we have the entire world literally at our finger tips. We can instantly access millions of news articles tailored to our specific interests.

News sites have replaced television channels and the day’s top news is available through RSS feeds, email alerts, and shared comments on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. With laptops, wireless Internet connectivity, and a host of applications we are now able to communicate with others with unprecedented ease, no matter where we are at any time during the day or night.

With the emergence of smartphones this trend has simply boomed. Smartphones and other such devices have simply revolutionized the way we search for news and share interesting articles with others. A revolution in Syria is followed on Twitter using a Smartphone. Updates are shared in real time with supporters from across the globe. A high school party invitation is sent out using a message that quickly snowballs until it reaches everyone at the school. From news that can topple a government to harmless Tweets directed at one’s sweetheart, information moves much faster than at any other time in world history.

People have the power to decide when they want their news to be delivered and how it will be personalized. Smartphone applications provide unprecedented functionality that leverage innovative features such as location. We can easily get news specific to our location at any point in time. The convenience and power of such targeted content makes the tasks associated with consuming news much more efficient. With traditional methods we spent more time and received reports less-tailored to our interests. We would watch the nightly news for a half hour just to find one or two stories interesting. Contrast that with the personalized news we can receive today within just a few seconds. Search engines and news aggregators can be accessed within seconds from just about anywhere, whether it be through laptop computers or smartphones.

Looking ahead, technology will only become even more integrated into our lives. The social networking revolution is just beginning. With millions of people joining Facebook and Twitter monthly, the efficiency with which we consume news will only increase.

Emily

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