Prompt

In his book, The Master Switch, Tim Wu argues that media technologies go through a “Cycle,” where new inventions begin with revolutionary promise but ultimately end up being centralized by a monopoly or oligopoly.

Write a 1,500-word summary of how your assigned media technology follows the pattern of Wu’s “The Cycle.” Your summary should address the timeframe of that technology and also confront at least three of the following steps of the “The Cycle”:

  1. The invention and adoption of the media technology;
  2. The technology’s disruption of an existing, incumbent technology;
  3. The consolidation of number of actors controlling that technology
  4. The division of the media technology industry due to a newer technology or regulatory action;
  5. The reorganization of the media technology industry into another consolidated industry with a few entities controlling it.

You are welcome to use outside sources, as long as they’re properly vetted and appropriately cited. However, outside sources are not required for this assignment.

Guidelines

Rubric

Your paper should do the following: