While Meta’s initial push was clunky, the concept of immersive, 3D popular media is not dead. Fortnite concerts (featuring Travis Scott or Ariana Grande) are a primitive version of this. Future entertainment content will not be watched on a screen but experienced in a virtual space, where you will be an actor, not a viewer.

To appreciate the present, we must glance at the past. The Golden Age of Television (1950s-60s) introduced a shared cultural language. Shows like I Love Lucy or The Ed Sullivan Show were appointment viewing. Entertainment content and popular media acted as a societal campfire—everyone gathered around the same flame at the same time.

The late 20th century introduced fragmentation. Cable television gave us 500 channels. Then, the internet arrived. Suddenly, the campfire exploded into a billion sparks. The rise of Web 2.0 (blogs, YouTube, social networks) democratized production. Anyone with a smartphone could produce entertainment content. Popular media ceased to be a lecture from Hollywood and became a conversation with the world.

Popular media has become a frontline for cultural debates about representation. Audiences increasingly demand authentic portrayals of race, gender, sexuality, and disability. Shows like Pose, Reservation Dogs, Heartstopper, and Abbott Elementary have succeeded not just because they are well-made but because they offer perspectives historically marginalized in mainstream entertainment.

However, this push has also sparked backlash and controversy. “Cancel culture,” while often overstated, reflects real tensions: creators and studios now navigate a minefield of audience expectations, social media call-outs, and rapidly evolving norms. The result is a media landscape that is more inclusive but also more cautious and sometimes performative.