Although the way many of us interact has changed enormously since the Internet entered our lives, plenty of social pastimes have been able to withstand many of these changes, as have dozens that have moved online and adapted to the new digital age in which we live.
Kiwis are no different, and many Kiwis social pastimes that have been substantial global news over the last 20 years have also impacted the culture of societies Down Under. Let’s explore some key changes and what they mean for Kiwis who have had to adjust their interests around the systemic global disruptions the Internet has ushered into our social lives.
Let’s explore the changes in Kiwis social pastimes:
Dissecting the Changes in the Entertainment World
Few industries have changed as much as the entertainment industry over the last 25 years. Some traditional mediums, such as TV and radio, have gone from the epicenter of our world to almost obsolete forms of media. Yes, they still have a place in the market, and it’s unlikely they will be considered entirely obsolete. However, it highlights just how much the entertainment world is now gravitating to digital forms of media.
In casino gaming, for instance, platforms have gone from localized businesses to digital platforms that, in some cases, have brought in a global audience. The same dichotomy exists in global streaming, where companies have gone from focusing on local TV shows to trying to crack global streaming giants like Netflix, where hundreds of millions have access to fresh content.
Rewinding to casinos, Dunder’s online casino in New Zealand has aimed to encapsulate the formula and model that resulted in many online casinos going from domestic businesses to global enterprises. The best examples of this emerged from the UK in the mid-2000s when favorable legislation and regulation resulted in a surge of casinos looking to tackle the quickly rising online market that was starting to take shape in front of them.
While it is notoriously tricky to navigate, the convenience and ease of digital casinos compared to land-based casinos are among the key reasons they have become such a hit. Kiwis, like many other prominent economies, such as the US and the UK, are moving their interests toward digital platforms.
Opting for Convenience
While our pastimes can remain the same for decades, how we access them can change significantly. For instance, teaching has moved from books and paper to PCs, laptops, and tablets. Over the next decade, it could be dominated by the AI industry.
Instead of attending lectures at university, students can now access the information online. In fact, in some cases, lecturers even post their classes on social media sites such as YouTube for free.
Although the obvious element here is the rise of the Internet, it’s also been able to transform the industry because of how much more convenient it has made the sector. By streamlining and making things more productive, the end goal is that the person, the end user, has a more convenient and bespoke experience.
The results are the same if we apply this idea to Kiwis social pastimes. Instead of buying a wordsearch or crossword puzzle book, many of these games are now available online for free. Social pastimes are slightly different, of course, as they often focus on the importance of group discussions, interaction, and being social.
However, in the modern market, social pastimes such as book clubs, quiz nights, and even learning a new language can be undertaken in a digital social setting rather than attending in person. This is so successful because of the convenience. If you’re an introvert like me, it’s a bit more comfortable than sitting around a table with half a dozen other people you haven’t met before, so there are other added benefits aside from the convenience, too.
A Mobile-driven Society
Mobile apps and phones are the bedrock of our modern world, and they’re one of the most significant factors in future changes in the dynamics of Kiwis social pastimes, both in New Zealand and further afield. We’re not just talking about sitting down and playing a game on your phone every now and again.
Mobile phones, tablets, and apps have become the primary way that Gen Z now accesses entertainment, with many attending social events, such as concerts, without even leaving home.
For a generation that grew up without the Internet, the mere concept of this is almost impossible to grasp. However, this is where the future is heading as people opt for convenience, lower costs, and entertainment avenues with which they are more familiar.
Traditional gaming settings are all going through the medium of mobile entertainment. Whether we are sitting down to play a game of chess against someone from the other side of the world or joining a digital book club, our mobiles are now integral in our lives, and by extension, this means that Kiwis social pastimes are gravitating toward this medium, too.
For Kiwis, mobile phones are a smaller part of the global puzzle, but as our world becomes interconnected to the point where it’s disadvantageous to be off-grid, our mobile phones are the focal point of all the key changes we’ve seen over the last decade and a half.
Final Thoughts
Kiwis fall into the same bracket as other countries, particularly in the West. However, they might be a bit behind the curve regarding specific areas of Kiwis social pastimes transformation, such as casino gaming.
Although the UK and Australia have made much more significant leaps in regulation and innovation, the consensus is that Kiwis are taking to their phones and adopting the same ideas as the rest of Westernized society.
Pastimes aren’t just changing in New Zealand; they’re changing worldwide, with Kiwis adopting the latest trends and moving in sync with their neighbors Australia, the US, and the UK.
It’s hard to envisage a scenario where this growing digital demand doesn’t continue influencing the transformation of pastimes, or where social media doesn’t profoundly impact the direction of hobbies and entertainment in the medium—to long-term future. From this standpoint, Kiwis are similar to the rest of the world. Again, this is also unlikely to change.
