A Social Shaping of Technology

Upon reading the article from the Washington Post, I felt that the content best correlated to Baym's theoretical perspective of Social Shaping of Technology. I found this to be because it places an emphasis on both the user and the technology when it comes to who is truly in control. While Katherine is choosing to engage with her phone the way she does and is using it in ways that please her, the phone and all that it entails also play an integral role because she would not have all the apps she does and depend on them so much if it were not for the advancement of new medias and technology. Being connected with her friends on her phone would not be so important to her if technology hadn’t made that the norm. At the same time, the apps merely exist on her phone and she gives them use based on her needs. Both parties work together to strike a power balance. As Baym mentions, the results come from the capabilities offered by the technology and the various ways in which they will be used by the consumer. Katherine Pommering is in control of how she uses her phone but her phone supplies the numerous services she can choose from when using it.