I media oggi. Tecnologie, mercati, profili socio-culturali e risposte normative

This contribution analyses the contemporary mediascape, 13 years after the publication of Carlo Marletti’s article. An overview of the evolution of technology, markets’ structure and users’ habits is offered, focusing on the rise of online platforms and its impact on three pre-existing sectors, namely audiovisual, audio/sound and the printing press/information. The backbones of the analysis are the followings: attention both to the global and national landscape; focus on an issue or profile of socio-cultural relevance associated to technological evolution, to be explored through the Sociology of communication lens; assessment of recent legislative proposals, also to test the aforementioned socio-cultural issues. This contribution also aims to demystify the polarized narratives that formed the background to legislative proposals at the European and national level. In the Conclusions, the importance of proportionate measures is stressed that are capable of protecting civil liberties and fundamental rights without becoming afflictive of technological and economic development and the related social benefits.