It Goes Both Ways- The Social Shaping of Technology


The theoretical perspective of the social shaping of technology can be used to explain the types of anxieties that people like Katherine feel when using social media and technology. This is because there are different types of affordances involved when using technology, regardless of the society or culture. The technological design of applications such as Instagram allow you to do certain things- such as "like" other user's photos, comment on them, post stories, etc. However, it is social construction that places such meaning on the importance of getting a certain amount of likes and comments on your photos. Katherine feels anxiety because of the social meaning applied to social media use- she wants to know how to "use her phone better" (aka, maximize the social potential of her phone's technical affordances) in order to reach a higher social status. Like Katherine said, "I get to choose what photos look good," however, it is the Instagram app's affordances that allow her to make the act of "liking" or commenting on that photo. To Katherine, her popularity is dependant on the number of likes and comments she gets, and whether she gets enough TBH's or receives a birthday shoutout from a friend's Instagram post.

Both Katherine and Kayla's addictions to their phones are because their phones allow them constant access to social contact, so they apply social importance to being constantly connected. If they miss a single moment, they miss a hundred chances to connect with someone else on a social level. This creates anxiety, particularly among youth, because it is a key moment in the development of confidence. When you are at a pre-teen age where you are figuring out who your friends are, what you like, and most importantly- who YOU are- it is easy to cling to any opportunity to connect with others and tune out the people who love you most (your family).

I chose this perspective because I do not think that society's relationship with technology is completely causal- I think that technology simultaneously shapes us while we shape it. Technology can only allow us to do so much and it will never be completely equivalent to face-to-face communication. However, what technology does allow us to do, we will continue to apply social meaning to as it allows us to act in particular ways. Social meaning is inscribed in the realities of technology to the point that we cannot keep track of every action we make. I am sure Katherine cannot keep track of the 64 messages she gets while she sits down and eats dinner with her family!

Comments

  1. Olivia HeinsOctober 6, 2018 at 11:15 AM

    While I chose the Social Construction of Technology perspective when writing my post, I agree with you in saying that it goes both ways. Katherine is the one who chooses what she posts however like you mention, it is Instagram that provides the affordances of liking or commenting on a photo. I believe that while we are the ones allowing Social Media to become so central to our lives, these apps also hold a lot of power and the creators of them have been able to manipulate us to an extent. I also agree with your statement about technology never being completely equivalent to face-to-face communication. I think that as much as we would like to believe that our online relationships are just as strong as those that are face-to-face, they are still not as personal or intimate and that social media allows us to have more relationships, but not as many close ones.

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