The year 2024 marks a pivotal moment in digital history. With the integration of artificial intelligence in content creation and the dominance of algorithm-driven feeds, the average user is exposed to a vast array of multimedia content daily. Unlike the early internet, which was largely static and user-driven, the modern web is dynamic and often designed to maximize engagement through psychological targeting. This shift necessitates a re-evaluation of how we define literacy in the 21st century. It is no longer sufficient to simply read and write; one must also "read" the algorithms and verify the authenticity of digital content.

Netflix changed the rules. Before Netflix, a "production" was sold to a network. Netflix produces for a global queue. Their algorithm allows them to fund niche shows (like the German sci-fi Dark ) that would never survive on linear TV.

Amazon’s acquisition of MGM in 2022 gave them a back catalog of 4,000 films (including James Bond). Their productions are either extremely prestige (Mrs. Maisel won multiple Emmys) or hyper-expensive genre plays. The Rings of Power cost over $1 billion for five seasons, the most expensive television production in history.

Large companies are merging (e.g., Disney buying Fox) to survive the high costs of the "Streaming Wars."