The Social/Cultural Effect of New Technology

The most important social/cultural effect of technology, specifically the Internet and related technologies is the way that it has taken over almost (probably all ) aspects of our lives. From work, business, to recreation, every thing we do today has been changed in one way or the other. For example, the way we take photos (digital cameras instead of film and waiting to get your pictures back), the way we communicate (emails, text messages and cell phones instead of landlines and written letters), the way we meet people socially (Facebook, MySpace instead of the Tap Room or The Den), the way we date (e-harmony instead of traditional ways to meeting people of the opposite sexes, the way we drive (navigation systems instead of Road maps and Atlases), the way we get famous (YouTube instead of Hollywood or winning the Pulitzer prize), the way news is disseminated (instantly over internet instead of the traditional evening news with Tom Brokaw), how we study in school (notes over the Internet like TRACS instead of the chalkboard, etc), how we research (online databases instead of the library’s Dewey system). This list could continue, but I think I have gotten the point across. Visionaries in today’s world are those that figure out how to use new technology to enhance or extend our social/cultural activities. The Wired article noted Mark Zuckerberg sought to “re-create online what he calls the ‘social-graph’ - the web of people’s real relationships.” Amazon figured out it could replicate shopping over the Internet, Ebay replicated Auctioning online and Google figured out how to take advertising from traditional outlets online.

New technology has to do with the whole shebang - access, identity, and community. The Digital Divide article in Wired underscores this phenomena. Because technology, again specifically the Internet, has become such a staple and indispensable part of our lives, not being able to get online means children are not able to compete with other kids who can. It means not being prepared for college or for high paying jobs. Thus, as I always believe, poverty is a vicious cycle that is hard to break. All things considered, most rich people will have children who are very likely to grow up to be rich or upper middle class. Most poor people will have children who will grow up to be poor or lower middle class. If you are poor, then you cant afford to get online, if you are not computer savvy, then you are not likely to get any well paying jobs, so you end up working at the local burger joint. If universal Internet access can help break the digital divide between the rich and poor, then it would be a technology that has accomplished what has been almost an impossible feat to do in any society.

Technology, like any other thing in life can be bad if not used in moderation or if they are no guidelines or etiquettes to accompany it. New technology, specifically the Internet has opened new worlds beyond which even Bush could not have imagined. However, it also comes with its caveats. Depending on who you talk to, the Internet has eroded social boundaries and mores, it has created new rules in society that focuses more on the superficial than the real. Email and text messaging has eroded the fine art of letter writing and self expression. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and the urge to post anything online has blurred the line between what should be private and what should be public.

However, like Turkle and Sherry, I am fascinated with identity in the age of the Internet.. The most disturbing effect of the new technology is the ability of criminals to assume anonymity in cyberspace - that means we have to deal with all sorts of vices that come with that - child pornography, Identity theft and fraud, to name a few among many. The Internet as it is - an open place is hard to track people, especially people who do not want to be tracked. Until, we have the technology able to identify an electronic fingerprint of everyone on the Internet (without government using the information to spy on innocent Texas State students!), then the Internet will continue to be a fascinating destination for us all - but one fraught with the dangers from a few bad apples and emails from former Nigerian Finance Ministers who need your bank account number to wire you large sums of “mis-placed” money!