Impact of Digital Forms of Communication Flashcards
What does Pountney argue
That globalisation and technological advances have made traditional influences such as social class less pertinent to the formation of identity. She argues that the greater access to information that is gained from digital communication has provided more opportunities for people to choose their identity
What does Hart argue
That people use social media platforms in order to construct both their social identity and the self they want to project out into the social world.
What is identity therefore in the eyes of the social world
A social product constructed by members of social networks for consumption by others in return for admiration and social approval
What does Boyle argue about the high uptake of digital communication by young people
That each successive generation is more proficient with and dependent on digital media.
Young people are more receptive to learning new skills demanded by the newer forms of digital technology and communication
What do sociologists argue about public digital networks and age transitioning
That young people’s involvement in public digital networks helps them to manage the transition from adolescent to adult society and assists their understanding of how to successfully negotiate public life.
What does Turkle suggest
That young people are mentally ‘tethered’ to their digital devices. This is seen in their frequent need to tract and check their connections. She argues this has weakened their ability to develop an autonomous sense of self
What did research by Ofcom find
That in 2015 it suggests that older generations (silver surfers) are beginning to use digital forms of communication more frequently.
What did Berry find
That older people who did not regularly use digital communication mainly blamed lack of skills and interest rather than reasons of cost
What did researchers find out the elderly and digital connections
That the majority of their elderly sample who had the hardware and the know-how, reported feeling less isolated because the digital connections they could make with relatives and friends
How is digital communication seen in social class
Digital communication will be less available to the poor because of its expense. It has been argued that digital communications are dominated by middle-class usage because this social class can afford to invest in the most recent technology
What is argued about social class and the digital revolution
That the revolution in digital communications has created a digital underclass because the poor lack the resources to join in with the new media usage.
How are social class characteristics seen in digital communication
In working class backgrounds they tend to use digital communication for the purpose of entertainment view game consoles, while the middle class users use it mainly for education and to accumulate information
What statistic did Ofcom find about gender and digital communications
In 2014 adult males in the UK accessed the internet for an average of 23.3 hours a week compared with 17.8 hours for adult females
What did Li and Kirkup find
That males were more likely than women to use email or chat rooms and played more computer games than women
Statistic on who uses digital forms of communication
In 2015 the UN announced that 4 billion people - 57% of the worlds population - and 90% if these who live in the 48 poorest countries have no access to the internet
