Ok, let’s look at this. When electronic media started to dominate the way people shared information, it wasn’t just about phones and emails. In South Africa, just like globally, broadcast media became the heartbeat of communication. Think about it, before WhatsApp or Facebook, radio was king. Radio and television played a massive role in distributing news, entertainment, and education to millions.

Remember when people sat around the TV at specific times just to catch the evening news? That’s how information flowed. And while we’re talking about this, print media didn’t die out either. Newspapers started adopting electronic formats, reaching people through online platforms.

This is a must-mention: emails became the professional standard for sharing information, while websites and blogs took off as major sources for everything from news to personal opinions. In fact, online news platforms are still massive in South Africa today, with outlets like News24 being a primary source of current events.

Social media changed the game entirely. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become essential for sharing information quickly and directly. South Africans use these platforms heavily, not just for personal updates, but for activism, news, and connecting with larger movements.

Evidence? Stats SA’s data from 2022 showed that over 38 million South Africans use mobile phones, and a huge percentage of them access the internet through these devices. This proves how the internet and mobile technology have touched every corner of the country, bringing fast access to information.

In short, while we’ve moved from radios and televisions to smartphones and social media, the aim is still the same: reaching people where they are. Instead of gathering around the radio, now we scroll through our feeds.

This touches the nerve, doesn’t it? It shows how tech and media have become personal, instantaneous, and everywhere.