In this blog post, we’ll explore the interplay between various theories and real-world examples of whether technology evolves in response to the needs of society or is an agent of social change.
We are currently living in the “information age
In the 21st century, the development of computers and the widespread use of the internet have made it easier for people to access information anytime, anywhere. As Alvin Toffler predicted in his book The Third Wave, the information revolution is happening fast. As the information revolution has progressed, computers and the Internet have become deeply embedded in our lives. We wake up in the morning and read articles on the Internet, watch TV programs on DMB, and almost everything in our companies is done through computers and networks. School is taught on computers, and financial transactions are done online. People have also moved their communities from offline to online to interact with each other.
In recent years, advances in communication technology and the widespread use of smartphones have led to the so-called “smart” era. Smartphones, smart refrigerators, smart cars, smart TVs, and other “smart” devices communicate and interact with each other over the network, providing real convenience in our daily lives. These changes have made possible things that were once unimaginable. The fact that this has happened in just 20 to 30 years shows how fast and powerful technological advances are.
As the pace of technological advancement accelerates, so does social change. The development of computers has greatly increased the efficiency of work by making it easier to store and share information such as documents, photos, and more. Society now relies on computers and networks as essential tools not only for personal needs, but also for state administration and business operations. Especially since the proliferation of smartphones, people can instantly search for information, communicate, and work anywhere with wireless internet access. It’s almost as if we have a computer in our hands.
The interaction between technology and society: technological determinism vs. social constructionism
The development of technology and the changes in society are inseparable, and some people have started to propose different theories about the relationship between technology and society. One of the most popular is technological determinism. Technological determinism argues that technology develops independently and is the main driver of social change. In other words, technology develops independently of the social components, and as a result, it has a decisive impact on society.
For example, the rapid diffusion of computers and smartphones seems to support the idea of technological determinism to some extent. New technologies have infiltrated our daily lives and changed many things. However, this argument has several limitations. First, technology does not develop independently of society, but is selectively adopted when society needs it. Unlike pure science, technology is studied for practical purposes and is expected to be useful in human life. Even if a technology is developed, it is only adopted if it meets the needs of society, so the “technological determinism” position does not fully explain the process of technology adoption.
Second, social change is not only driven by technology, but also by economic, social, and policy factors. For example, the different proportions of internet users on different continents are due to differences in economic levels and infrastructure. According to the latest statistics, the percentage of internet users on the African continent will still be low at around 37% in 2023, while North America will be around 87% at the same time. This highlights the fact that the speed of adoption and penetration of the same technology varies greatly depending on the economic environment, infrastructure conditions, and social capital in each region.
Social constructionism: Technology interacts with social context
An alternative theory to technological determinism is social constructionism. Social constructionism explains that technology develops in response to the political, economic, and cultural needs of society. This theory holds the view that the direction of technological development is shaped by society. In other words, rather than being independent, technological advancements are moderated by the needs of society and aligned with the expectations and demands of its members.
However, social constructionism cannot explain the development of all technologies. Some technologies are developed without society actively needing them, and then social demand arises. For example, the internet was initially developed for limited research purposes, but over time it became an essential infrastructure for society as a whole. The way in which technology and society interact and develop is not simply explained by one of two theories: technological determinism or social constructionism.
Technology and society interact
In conclusion, technology and society do not completely determine one another, but rather influence and evolve together. Technology is developed to meet the needs of society, which in turn adapts to society and changes its structure and way of life. It’s a circular cycle, where changes in society require technological advancements, which in turn drive new changes in society.
This is why it is difficult for both technological determinism and social constructionism to explain technology and society independently. While technology affects society, it is humans, the members of society, who research and develop the technology. Human wants and needs determine the direction of technological development, which in turn drives social change. It’s important to understand that technology and society are not just one changing the other, but a win-win relationship where they interact and evolve together.
In this interaction, technology not only makes people’s lives easier, but it also brings about profound changes in economic structures, jobs, education, culture, and more. In the future, technology will continue to evolve rapidly in our society, and with it, our lives will be transformed.
