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How did digitization lead to media convergence?

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The first-generation Apple iPhone — media convergence In addition to functioning as a cell phone, Apple's touchscreen iPhone, released in 2007, has a built-in Web browser for viewing Internet content over wireless telephone networks and Wi-Fi connections. The iPhone also can be used as a multimedia playback device for listening to music or viewing videos.

Digitization is the fundamental driver of media convergence, acting as the catalyst that brings together the "three C’s"—computing, communication, and content. By converting information into a digital format, media content is no longer tethered to specific analog devices or platforms, such as traditional print or broadcast media.12

This shift enables a diverse array of content—including text, video, and audio—to be accessed, organized, and disseminated through the same digital devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, and smart televisions. Consequently, digitization erodes the "silos" that once separated different media industries, allowing for the creation of cross-media content.12

Furthermore, digitization facilitates a move from one-way communication to two-way, participatory experiences. It empowers users to act as producers, enables the fragmentation of mass audiences into niche groups, and allows for the rapid, continuous distribution of information via the Internet. Ultimately, this convergence transforms how society organizes its social, political, and economic structures by uncoupling content from its original medium.31