Digital communication tools and music education: The impact of social media development on musical literacy

Abstract

The development of social media and other digital communication tools has brought about significant changes in the ways young people communicate, access musical content, and engage in the learning process. Musical content is increasingly presented and performed through platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. In this context, shorter formats and creative interpretations have gained prominence. On Instagram, the visual presentation of musical content plays a particularly important role, promoting performers who create musical material based on aesthetic parameters. Conversely, YouTube offers content through which young people can further their musical education by accessing video tutorials on instrumental performance, as well as acquiring theoretical knowledge of music and music production. This mode of education has also transformed traditional forms of knowledge acquisition, such as classroom instruction, as contemporary learning approaches emphasize visual demonstration, rapid access to information, flexibility, and accessibility. Consequently, contemporary music education has acquired a new dimension, with music becoming not only a subject of learning but also a means of communication, social interaction, and identity expression within the digital environment. Using a theoretical-analytical approach and the comparative method, this paper examines the relationship between various forms of digital communication and music education. The aim of the study is to investigate how digital tools influence the development of music literacy. The paper also discusses the challenges associated with digital communication channels during the process of acquiring musical knowledge. Furthermore, particular attention is devoted to the concepts of digital literacy and informal learning.