Post-modern situation in media communication: forecast and reality

In the social transformations that shape the situation of “postmodernity”, media communication plays a leading role. At the first stages of its formation, theorists made a number of predictions about a new sociality: the implementation of the principles of equality and freedom; the ability to participate in significant decision-making; inclusion of all in social integrity and participation in events; consolidation of rationality, ethics, and freedom in reaching a universal consensus; convergence of values and worldviews.Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to investigate how and in what forms these forecasts have been carried out; what are the trends of modern media communication.Research methods: comparative analysis, system-structural and structural-functional analysis.The main results of the study are as follows. The forecasts of the leading theorists about the prospects of media communication and the digital society have been reached, at best, only partially. In a real situation, which many authors call “postmodernity”, one can see the following contradictory tendencies: real boundaries, which were expected to become “transparent”, are now reproduced in virtual form; communication processes stimulated consolidation, but at the same time exacerbated ideological, national, socio-cultural divisions. Moreover, the government and business structures that are increasing their influence (“post-democracy”) are competing with new actors for leadership in media communication. The phenomenon of “post-truth” show itself through rejection of the objectivity principle, reliability, rationality. The immersion of communicants in a virtual environment has number of negative consequences for the personality, including “erosion” of basic moral and social norms (“posthumanism”). Furthermore, basic functions of journalism are replaced by dysfunctions (“post-journalism”). Thus, the Internet has served as a kind of catalyst that enhances both positive and negative social trends.