When attempting to understand New Media, it is important to know its wholesome definition. Glen Creeber identifies some distinguishing features of New Media; its volatile nature as digital data rather than physical material (such as tape or cassette) which allows new possibilities for reproduction.

"digital media surpasses analogue technology in that it is easily transferable
across distinctly different media platforms... digital data is also easier to manipulate and... can be reproduced indefinitely." (Creeber 2009: 2)

The first and foremost characteristic of defining New Media is the fact that it is, on an atomic degree, made up of code, rather than actual matter. Confusion develops when the semiotician attempts to identify New media by how the viewer accesses the medium. New media is not defined by new technology, but rather the fact that New media is, in most cases, old media forms, possibly on analogue format, which are now distributed as digital information.      

Creeber discusses wether or not New media is good for society. He brings up the fact that in World War 2, mass media was used to manipulate the minds of audiences. However, it could be argued that while government agenda may bleed into what media masses consume, New media has the potential to resist this concept, as users actively choose what content they want to consume, however in the World War 2 period, the amount of media content masses had access to was miniscule compared to what is available today.

This can be validated by the fact that voting and consumption of newspapers and even television news broadcasts are at an all time low: consumers seek to fulfill their gratification needs elsewhere. Bearing this in mind while referring to Creeber, when he states "many aspects of modernism tended to have an optimistic belief in the power of modernity," (Creeber 2009: 11) we note that while media was once a tool which could be used to manipulate masses, it is possible to come to the conclusion that media has passed through a transition, whereas the freedom of information prevents totalitarian control of the mind of the consumer.

Bibliography:

Creeber, G. (2009) DIGITAL THEORY: Theorizing New Media & Cubitt, D. (2009) Pages 2, 11