Although there are several ways that New Media may be described, Lev Manovich, in an introduction to The New Media Reader, defines New Media by using eight propositions, of which the first seven are most relevant. Although not crucial to understanding this essay, if you wish to expand on your knowledge of New Media, I have written a summary of each of Manovich's most important points which can be found fully on the link above.

1. New Media versus Cyberculture: New media refers to the social objects that comprise the creation and interaction with content both the content itself, how it is made and how it is viewed. On the other hand, as previously stated, new media refers to the cultural phenomenon that surfaces from the interaction with said content.


2. New Media as Computer Technology Used as a Distribution Platform – New Media are the cultural objects which use technology as the distribution platform of content, not merely tools used in its production. The problem with the concept of "new media" is that

   a. With time it will lose meaning once this platform start being the convention and cease being 'new'.

b. The definition needs to be revised with the invention of new platforms.

c. The commonality between the plethora of digital alternatives needs to be present, if they were to diverge too much they could no longer fall under the same category.

3. New Media as Digital Data Controlled by Software – The concept of New Media is based on the assumption that these social objects have in common that they can be utilized by existing software to be viewed and altered as desired by both the creator and end user.

4. New Media as the Mix Between Existing Cultural Conventions and the Conventions of Software –New Media relies on the concept that it mixes the analogue process of content creation with the new platform of technology. While it perpetuates the old age concept of relaying information through a variety of genres and 

5. New Media as the Aesthetics that Accompanies the Early Stage of Every New Modern Media and Communication Technology – Manovich proposes that new media does not necessarily refer to the new technological media but rather it is a concept that encompasses the  common process of every new form of media throughout history. In other words, that every new technology that affects the way we create/see/interact with content will pass through a "new media phase" "Here are a few examples of such ideological tropes: new technology will allow for better democracy: it will give us a better access to the "real" (by offering "more immediacy" and/or the possibility "to represent what before could not be represented"); it will contribute to "the erosion of moral values": it will destroy the "natural relationship between the observer and the world" by "eliminating the distance" between the observer and the observed."

6. New Media as Faster Execution of Algorithms Previously Executed Manually or through Other Technologies – Computers have exponentially increased the speed with which the complete different operations; "Dramatically speeding up the execution makes possible previously non-existent representational technique." This technological developments allow for the availability of different types of media to be created/display. However, one must not forget that these tools are  just faster ways of doing things that were otherwise possible through different techniques (e.g. claculators). However, a change in speed and the processes that can be made creates a change in content itself, allowing to create more imersive or more media-diverse content.