Modern popular media consumption is rarely done in isolation. The rise of the second screen (smartphone or laptop used while watching TV) has fundamentally changed how shows are written.
Writers rooms now anticipate "Twitter moments." They craft cliffhangers not just for the episode end, but for the commercial break (or the streamer's pause screen) to maximize social sharing. The Game of Thrones "Red Wedding" episode became a global event not just because of the shock value, but because thousands of people simultaneously recorded their friends' reactions and uploaded them to YouTube. BlackAmbush.19.12.14.Kylie.Rocket.XXX.720p.WEB....
This has birthed a new form of entertainment content: reaction media. Entire careers are built on watching other people watch things. Streamers on Twitch and Kick react to music videos, movie trailers, or reality TV drama. The value of the original content is now partially measured by its "reactability." A slow-burn, meditative film (like The Power of the Dog) may win Oscars, but a fast-paced, meme-able property (like Cocaine Bear) generates more user-generated content. Modern popular media consumption is rarely done in isolation
Looking forward, the horizon of entertainment content and popular media is both thrilling and terrifying. Text & Static Visuals