What are the "New Media"?

The New Media -- that's stuff like blogging and Facebook and Twitter and all that, right?

Yes it is, but the New Media are far more than simply a set of digital tools and services. The New Media together reflect a new culture -- with new ways of finding, sharing, and creating that do not go by traditional rules. Those who want to succeed with the New Media better know something about this new culture and its principles, especially so they do not try to use the New Media as though they were the old media.

And that's a good starting point for understanding New Media. Just how is it that they differ from old or traditional media?

The Restored Gospel as New Media

When we think about New Media and Mormonism, it is tempting just to dive into the technology available in the digital age. But before getting too caught up in the tools, we should recall that Christianity itself is based upon the concept of mediation, and that Mormonism itself constitutes a new medium for Christianity. 

I think these facts are terribly important to keep in mind, since it is very tempting simply to imitate how others are using new media secularly. We have a better vantage point; we can view our own uses of media as continuous with our core beliefs and our own religious history. Let me explain just what I mean by relating Mormon history and beliefs to the New Media.