Audiences And Users Essay, Research Paper

How might our patterns of consumption be influence by the growing importance of new multimedia technologies?

One influential multimedia on people s patterns of consumption is the World Wide Web. There are not many places one can go on the Internet without being exposed to advertisement. Many Internet sights offer free email services, information, or items. Unfortunately, the pages are often laden with advertisements. Most businesses today have a site on the Internet where you can shop, contact customer service, or read information on company policies. Some small business owners have taken advantage of opportunities of working out of the home, while doing business through the Internet.

Any time someone fills out a form on the Internet for free email or items the are asked an assortment of questions about their income, interest, family make up, computer use, and hobbies. The host of the free Internet site often uses the information to correlate which advertisements to show on the web pages that one chooses to view. MSN is a good example of an Internet sight that advertises to the customer s interest. Two people who specified different interest when filling out email application forms will not see the same advertisements when checking their email. If one person specified an interest in gardening, they might see advertisements for gardening magazines or planting seeds. If someone reported a high income the viewer would possibly see credit card advertisement: where if someone specified a low income he or she might see debt consolidation advertisements.

I am a consumer who uses Yahoo s free email. When I filled out the registration I did not check any interest and claimed zero income. Most of the advertisements in my email consist of diet ads or Internet downloads. However, I ordered a couple weekly newsletters, which I canceled immediately because of lack of information and too many advertisements. I find it frustrating when I accidentally click an advertisement ad and my email page turns to the advertisement page.

Unfortunately, I am also a consumer that partakes in shopping online. I enjoy browsing the sale sections without the hassle of crowds and messy racks. Many times I have filled the online shopping cart and never checked out. One problem with shopping online is that the consumer is often charged a shipping fee. If one browses around the Internet enough, he or she would be able to find sights that offer free shipping.

Another phenomenon that is using television and the Internet is the Big Brother show. The live television show is on Monday through Saturday. When the show is on there are advertisements for America Online. One can view the TV show members online anytime on the Internet. Once one visits America Online to view the TV cast members in the Big Brother house there are advertisements on the web page.