Riding a wave of change: How the Internet took on a new role in 2020
2020 has seen the world go virtual like never before. Yes, the internet revolution started long before the turn of 2020. When Tim Berners-Lee expanded on the idea of internal communication networks developed by government agencies like DARPA, his vison was to connect the world. From there, the concept of interconnected networks emerged and, over the next three decades, it evolved into what we know today as the internet.
When Berners-Lee thought up the idea of a world wide web, he could have never envisioned what it would become. Moreover, he couldn’t have predicted that 2020 would make the internet an integral part of life for millions. The fact is, however, that online activity spiked in 2020 and that brought existing concepts into the spotlight and made new ideas popular. The entertainment industry was undoubtedly the biggest recipient of 2020’s online surge.
Demand for Online Entertainment Surges
Although Netflix et al have been popular for years, their servers were pushed to the limit as people flocked to the internet looking for entertainment. In the first three months of 2020, the streaming platform attracted 16 million new sign-ups, almost double what it saw in the final quarter of 2019. Such was the increase in demand for online movies and shows, internet service providers (ISPs) had to throttle download speeds in certain regions to prevent servers from crashing.
It was a similar story for online gaming sites. With the internet becoming the go-to resource for entertainment, players old and new were accessing platforms like vegasslots.co.uk in order to find some entertainment like slots machines, table games, and everything in between. Much like Netflix, online casinos have been steadily increasing their library of options for years. Today, slots come in all forms. From three-reel games to Star Trek tributes, the options are endless. As such, operators were perfectly placed to take advantage of the wave of online activity that swept the globe in 2020.
The Introduction of New Innovations
Increased traffic has helped those with online services, but the recent dynamics have also created new opportunities. In many ways, there’s been an epistemic shift. The internet is the zeitgeist more than ever and that’s prompted individuals and businesses to innovate. The BBC has been part of this move towards new ideas. The Upload Festival gave aspiring comedians a chance to have their voices heard. Whether it was through their writing, acting, or stand up, the innovation took the concept of streaming and turned it into something entertaining and productive. Indeed, as performers linked their webcams to BBC’s network, a wealth of emerging talent was given the chance to be seen by the nation and, of course, TV executives.
Recording artists also had similar ideas. Elton John made six of concerts available on YouTube in July. The weekly series was inspired by innovations from the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Taking the phrase “the show must go on” literally, Webber authorised the streaming of various stage shows. The live streams were shown on a Friday and made available for 24 hours in the UK and 48 hours elsewhere around the world. The aim, like many things we’ve seen in 2020, was to entertain the masses.
The internet has been a part of modern life for years. However, recent times have seen it take on a new significance. With existing foundations strengthened and new ones built, the medium has entered a new phase. Looking forward, we should expect to see even more positive changes as we continue to embrace life online.
