"Societies have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication"
- Marshall McLuhan
About this Quote
This quote by Marshall McLuhan suggests that the method which people interact has a greater effect on society than the real material of the communication. He is recommending that the medium of interaction is more prominent than the message itself. For instance, the invention of the printing press permitted the mass production of books, which in turn enabled the spread of understanding and concepts. This had a profound effect on society, as it permitted the spread of originalities and the development of new technologies. Similarly, the invention of the internet has actually enabled the quick spread of info and has had a substantial impact on the way we communicate and interact with each other. In conclusion, McLuhan's quote recommends that the way in which we interact has a higher impact on society than the material of the communication.