With GAFA in charge

With GAFA in charge, it’s a sad day for democracy

I am concerned and alarmed.

I have just been reading the latest trends in the use of mobile phones compared to desktop computers. 3.2 billion people now have mobile phones – nearly half the world’s population – and within 12 months more people will link to the Internet on their phones than either the tablet or the larger screen PC. This is a disaster for democracy.

Why? Two reasons. First, how many words are you prepared to read about one subject on a mobile phone? Two, you and I are no longer searching for news – we are waiting for it to be delivered to us.

The smart phone is transforming the world

Combined, these two points inevitably lead to us being dumbed down when it comes to understanding current affairs and government policy and actions. Let me explain.

The rise and rise of the big four

In the media industry it is being openly discussed that the four American businesses of Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple (now referred to as GAFA) have won the battle of hijacking customers of advertising. The marketing dollars are flowing out of every form of traditional media into digital platforms. The forecast is many medias will downsize or close. For instance newspapers will stop printing and eventually close. TV networks will stop producing local programs and local news and could eventually close. Radio is likely to survive but only because of its low cost of production.

As the money dries up for each of these medias, the quality of their content will decline and more of us will be driven to our phones to get our news and entertainment. And we have demonstrated that our attention span on our phones is getting shorter.

Just 24 months ago for instance, the general view was an information video can’t be longer than three minutes to keep the attention of a viewer. Now that length is 60 to 90 seconds.

A rich information article in a newspaper is at least 1500 words. A rich information article in the digital sphere, being read on a phone, is 300 to 500 words.

Slaves to our phones

And where do we get this information from in the digital world. The new slogan in digital media is: “if it is important it will find me”. This means that we consumers (and voters and the taxpayers) are building the habit of opening our phones and looking at the stories that our phones deliver to us rather than going out and searching for them – on say, a formal news platform.

Think about it. We open our phone to be immediately met by alerts to say we have Facebook or WhatsApp or email messages screaming for our attention. As soon as we open them we are hijacked off on a journey which will include pop-ups of ‘news’ that consume our attention and time.

This journey behind the scenes is controlled largely by Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple. GAFA is deciding what is important and they are finding you and me and delivering it to us.

Popular Articles

View All Articles
Article Img
What makes a great retirement village manager?

As anyone who lives in a retirement village will tell you, the village manager is a central figure who is critical to the success of the village and the happiness and wellbeing of village residents. But there’s no doubt the village manager plays an essential role. So, what is the role of a retirement village manager?

Article Img
Retirement villages without exit fees? They’re happening!

Retirement villages without exit fees? They’re happening! Now, some of Australia’s largest retirement village operators are looking at new ways to pay for retirement villages that don’t include exit fees – indeed, there are calls for some exit fees to be banned.

Article Img
What sort of profits do retirement village owners make?

The number of Australians over the age of 75 is expected to increase by 70% over the next six years. The number of Australians over the age of 80 is expected to triple to more than 3.5 million over the next 40 years. As the number of older people in Australia surges, so too does demand for age-appropriate housing – such as retirement villages, which offer an affordable lifestyle, community, and ongoing health and wellness support.

Article Img
73% of Australians willing to sacrifice inheritance for aged care

Nearly three-quarters of all Australians are willing to sacrifice their own inheritance so their parents and grandparents can enjoy the retirement they deserve, according to a new report by B2B aged care service CompliSpace.

Article Img
Volunteers are the backbone of the aged care sector, and more are needed

Tens of thousands of people, of all ages, such as 90-year-old Lily Burns and 20-year-old Charlise Hannagan, volunteer in aged care homes. The Change Makers is the theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week, 15 to 21st May, which celebrates the vital work of volunteers.

Article Img
What is the Future of Rental Retirement Villages?

Across Australia there are approximately 300 rental retirement villages – but few more are likely to be built, which is an unfortunate situation for older Australians. Rental retirement villages operate much like normal rentals, but they offer older Australian with limited financial means the opportunity of housing security, health and lifestyle support, and a welcoming and safe community.

Article Img
This is the food that you can get in residential aged care

Uniting NSW.ACT is aware of the criticism that is often levelled at the food served in residential aged care homes. The Not For Profit is passionate about the food served to residents and determined that as well meeting residents’ nutrition needs, their food looks and tastes delicious and as well as catering to their individual desires as much as possible.

Article Img
Unique test can predict if you have dementia up to nine years earlier

An international research team led by Queen Mary University of London, UK, has developed a new method for predicting dementia with an over 80 per cent accuracy and up to nine years before diagnosis. The new method provides a more accurate way to predict dementia than memory tests or measurements of brain shrinkage, two commonly used methods for diagnosing dementia.

A special thanks to our contributors

Icons
Caroline Egan

DCM Media, agedcare101

Caroline has a wealth of experience writing within the retirement and aged care sector and is a contributing journalist for the Villages.com.au and agedcare101 blog and accompanying newsletters.

Icons
Ian Horswill

Journalist

Ian is a journalist, writer and sub-editor for the aged care sector, working at The DCM Group. He writes for The Weekly Source, agedcare101, villages.com.au and the DCM Institute fortnightly newsletter Friday. Ian is in daily contact with CEOs of retirement living, land lease and the aged care operations and makes a new contact every week. He investigates media releases, LinkedIn and Facebook for a good source for ideas for stories.

Icons
Lauren Broomham

Retirement and Aged Care Journalist

Lauren is a journalist for villages.com.au, agedcare101 and The Donaldson Sisters. Growing up in a big family in small town communities, she has always had a love for the written word, joining her local library at the age of six months. With over eight years' experience in writing and editing, she is a keen follower of news and current affairs with a nose for a good story.

Icons
Jill Donaldson

Physiotherapist

Jill has been practicing as a clinical physiotherapist for 30 years. For the last 13 years she has worked solely in the Aged Care sector in more than 50 metropolitan and regional facilities. Jill has also toured care facilities in the US and Africa and is a passionate advocate for both the residents in aged care and the staff who care for them. She researches and writes for DCM Media.

Icons
Chris Baynes

DCM Media, agedcare101

Chris has been a journalist and publisher in the retirement village and aged care sectors for 11 years. He has visited over 250 retirement villages and 50 aged care facilities both within Australia and internationally. Chris is a regular speaker at industry conferences plus is a frequent radio commentator.

Icons
Annie Donaldson

Nurse and Carer

Annie has a long career in both nursing and the media. She has planned and co-ordinated the medical support from both international TV productions and major stadium events. In recent years she has been a primary family carer plus involved in structured carer support.