ABSTRACT
This chapter is made up of two sections: Swimming in Information and Swimming in Social Media. In historical terms, information dissemination has been, until relatively recently, limited to graffiti—visual and textual messages scrawled on walls—mounting soap boxes, knocking on doors, and pamphlets—think Benjamin Franklin. While today digital screens are decried for ruining the people attention spans and intellects, it was once the case that similar sentiments were expressed concerning museums. In a world of digital screens, a diner’s casual shot of their meal posted on social media can mean a precarious drop or a steady surge in business for the restaurant. Historically, the media practices of reading, viewing, and manipulating were practically and conceptually distinct from communicating with others. In 2008, five psychiatric patients were diagnosed with a new condition. The potential power of people to shape their lives and identities can be found in the assumption that people produce themselves in media.
