The social construction of
technology perspective focuses on how technologies (i.e. Katherine’s cell
phone) arise from social processes. SCOT emphasizes a wide range of social
forces influence how people take up
technology as they adopt to them. Katherine’s mother’s health condition
influenced how she used her cell phone when she first got it in grade 5.
Her phone was initially
intended to be used only incase there was a health emergency with her mom.
Instead, Katherine downloaded multiple social media applications and stopped
inviting friends to the house. Her obsession with receiving likes, comments,
and followers developed immediately. This exemplifies that people no longer
crave face-to-face human connection but instead we crave digital connection –
sometimes with people we have never even met. Any normal 5th grade
girl would love hanging out with friends at the mall after school before the
invention of cell phones. Now, 5th grade girls socialize over their
cell phones instead of face-to-face.
SCOT also shows how
attitudes toward behaviors are shaped by the attitudes of peers. For example
when Katherine’s dad, Dave, was 13 years old his parents taught him it was
normal to ride his bike to friends houses, to play outside all day, as to make
it home by dinnertime. Contrastingly, Katherine’s parents taught her it is
normal to be on her phone all the time, to never invite friends over to play. The
way Dave connected with peers during childhood was normal to him and the way
Katherine connects with her peers are normal to her even
though they are completely different from each other.
In sum, the reality that cell phones have come to replace face-to-face interaction and the reality that people like Katherine depend on their devices to feel accepted are a couple of the many consequences of social
factors (i.e. how a child is raised). Furthermore, it is not the actual
technology that triggered Katherine’s obsession with receiving likes, comments,
and followers – rather – it was mainly due to her parents’ decision to buy her
a cell phone at such a young age.
I have to agree and disagree with the statement that was made above. I think that a part of the issue with children using technology at a young age is due to the parents that purchase the devices for the children, but without the technology the parents wouldn't need to purchase these types of devices. We live in a world now where it is abnormal if you do not own a cell phone, mostly for social reasons, but for safety reasons as well. When we were much younger parents let us play outside or walk to a friends house without any source of communication until we reached our destination, but parents now fear that if their children do not have a mobile device on them, then they could be in harms way. We live in a society where parents do not have a choice to exclude their children from the social media world.
ReplyDeleteI think that this point is very valid, however, I think that it wasn't necessarily the phone and its abilities that created Katherine's obsessions with the likes, comments, and following. Although the use of the technology enable this, I believe that it can be influenced by the ways in which Katherine and her classmates have adapted to using the applications within the phone. These apps were created as a communication outlet however the norms that have been developed through use are not necessarily attributed to the technology. If you compare how Katherine uses her phone to how her parents use their phone (if they are using facebook and social media outlets) it is very different. Both have adapted different ways in which they connect with others and Katherines is very focused on the likes and comments where parents are more focused on what their friends are up to and commenting on different success. Both are forms of communication but in Katherines sense, there is more anxieties. This shows how the social uses of the technology have influenced the outcome instead of the physical technology constructing these norms.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your stance on the article and the theoretical perspective you chose because it made me look at the article in a different way. I chose to use a technological determinist approach and because of that focussed more on how Katherine felt in terms of needing to fit into the world around and the social pressures that come with it. As where you looked at her socialization process, it was an interesting point you made that she "craved a digital connection" rather then face-to-face. Instead of 'craving' it, I described it more of a addiction. Where anyone who has a phone feels the need to be looking at it. I think it can be argued we use our phones almost in an unconscious manor by not even recognizing what we are doing at times. I think the points you made about how a child is raised is very important. Due to Katherine receiving one at a young age because of needing to be reached, I think in this day and age that is the circumstance and reason for most young people getting a phone. In terms of safety...it is almost unsafe to not have a phone today. Apps surround our lives and a lot of systems such as the bus rely on apps to inform their users of times, delays, and whatever else. Her dad along with all other parents can be blamed for giving a phone to their child to young but with our fast past changing world it is hard to say when the right age is anymore.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your stance on the article and the theoretical perspective you chose because it made me look at the article in a different way. I chose to use a technological determinist approach and because of that focussed more on how Katherine felt in terms of needing to fit into the world around and the social pressures that come with it. As where you looked at her socialization process, it was an interesting point you made that she "craved a digital connection" rather then face-to-face. Instead of 'craving' it, I described it more of a addiction. Where anyone who has a phone feels the need to be looking at it. I think it can be argued we use our phones almost in an unconscious manor by not even recognizing what we are doing at times. I think the points you made about how a child is raised is very important. Due to Katherine receiving one at a young age because of needing to be reached, I think in this day and age that is the circumstance and reason for most young people getting a phone. In terms of safety...it is almost unsafe to not have a phone today. Apps surround our lives and a lot of systems such as the bus rely on apps to inform their users of times, delays, and whatever else. Her dad along with all other parents can be blamed for giving a phone to their child to young but with our fast past changing world it is hard to say when the right age is anymore.
ReplyDelete