This document discusses the differences between fast and slow communication channels in the era of media transformation. It notes that people now have shorter attention spans, around 8 seconds, due to the rise of fast media like social media and video streaming. However, slow media like news articles, blogs and podcasts require more time and resources to produce and consume. The document examines challenges from information overload, misinformation and privacy issues with fast media, and suggests the need for new skills, models, and regulation to address ethical concerns as media continues to evolve rapidly.

1. Slow and Fast Online
Communication Channels in the
Era of Media Transformation
Justine Toms
Media and Communication Department
New Bulgarian University
27 October 2023

2. 8 seconds?
In 2015, the Internet blew up with a shocking new statistic:
"humans have an 8-second attention span. Less than that of a goldfish!
And it's getting shorter!”
https://www.keg.com/news/the-first-8-seconds-capturing-the-attention-of-gen-z-students
“We are living in media”, Mark Deuze

3. Fast vs Slow
“Thinking, Fast and Slow”
The father of behavioural economics, Nobel award-winning
psychologist Daniel Kahneman, has inadvertently indicated what is
potentially the most critical contextual factor of all for the power of
media channels

4. Fast vs Slow and 2-stage mind
Stage 1
fast, intuitive, implicit, emotional, and heuristic-led
Stage 2
analytical, slow, conscious, rational and evidence-led – enables humans to manage
the increasing complexity of modern life
“Thinking, Fast and Slow”
Daniel Kahneman

5. Fast vs Slow and 2-stage mind
Stage 1
fast, intuitive, implicit, emotional, and
heuristic-led
Stage 2
analytical, slow, conscious, rational and
evidence-led – enables humans to manage
the increasing complexity of modern life
“Thinking, Fast and Slow”
Daniel Kahneman

6. Media Transformation and Communication

7. The Impact of Social Media
• Hashtag
• Status
• Feed

8. Attention span
Average TikTok video length from August 2022 to January 2023, by
number of video views
Source: Statista 2023.

9. Media changes

10. Online News Consumption

11. Video Streaming and
Content Consumption

12. Evolving Media Consumption Patterns

13. Implications for Traditional Media

14. News, Articles, Podcasts and Blogs
• Slow research and preparation
• Slow to be produced
• Need big (more then 1) team (professional)
• Slow to be consumed
• Stay in time
• Searchable

15. Challenges and Ethical Considerations
• Information Overload
• Spread of Misinformation
• Privacy Concerns
• Sensationalism and Clickbait
• Echo Chambers and Polarization
• Inadequate Verification

16. Future Directions
• How fast?
• New skills
• New models of work and distribution
• IA creating content
• Ethical issues
• Legal frame

17. Key Takeaways
• Slow media are Gatekeeper today
• Media Literacy and Communication
• Analyzing Emerging Media

18. Let’s try to slow down.
Thank you!

19. Sources
• Statista.com
• Forbes.com
• Keg.com
• Time.com
• Deuze, Mark, Media life, 2012
• Kahneman, Daniel, Thinking, Fast and Slow, 2011