Modern Revolutions

Kathryn Hoar
World Literature Honors
Ms. Kennett
6 March 2012

Born in 1994, I have lived in three decades, two centuries, and two millenniums; I’m not even twenty-years-old yet. Having lived just 17 short years, I have obviously concluded that everyday brings change. In today’s society, we are making advances in technology, communication, and even in the music industry, distinguishing each generation from another.

Even in just about ten years, the world has drastically evolved the face of technology. The very first iPod was introduced in 2002, now, in 2012 Apple is on the verge of releasing an addition to the product family, the iPad 3. In 2003, Toyota released its very first Hybrid car, compared to today where almost every company has at least one hybrid model as a way to adjust to a recycling revolution to “Go Green”. And believe it or not - it was only 7 years ago when Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim invented YouTube. Stop. Imagine your everyday life without the encounter of an Apple product, a movement to “Go Green”, or having any access to YouTube. How different would it be? Most of society can simply access all three from the tap of a screen on an Apple iPhone, and other ‘i’ products.

Everyday thousands of people across the world access a social networking site, or watch the media. Before any sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr, many people would not hear of any news unless they had watched the news on TV or spoken with someone who had. Some would hear through sites like MSN, but it could take hours or days for a breakthrough in peoples’ knowledge. Without cell phones, television, computers - any technology - society would not be as quickly made aware of news in seconds. Social media contributed to many changes in communication.

As the internet is a prime market for advertising, entrepreneurs and many other gifted people have been discovered through the web. Since April 23, 2005, millions of videos have been shared with YouTube users, many including showcases of one’s talent. Before Justin Bieber struck fame, not everyone thought to post videos on YouTube in hopes of being discovered, or to look for talent online. Shortly after Bieber, YouTube sensation Greyson Chance was given a shot at Hollywood, and in 2011 - a two man band “Karmin” took their career to the next level. With each video posted, the music industry is expanding and new genres are becoming of interest.

Although each day does not feel like it has changed as much as the previous one, as a whole, the world has evolved positively and negatively, shaping the future. Each advance in technology, communication, and advertising has created its own revolution that will continue to welcome tomorrow just as quickly as it welcomed today.