Concepts And The Impact Of Digital Communication On Identities: Network Society

Question 1

Castells

Answer 1

• work is central to the concept of the network society, which he describes as a social structure shaped by networks powered by digital information and communication technologies.
• In this society, power, communication and economic
  activity connect through global networks rather than traditional formats making information and connectivity key drivers of social and cultural change
• discusses ‘informationalism’ - Unlike industrialism, which focused on transforming matter and energy, informationalism centers on the role of knowledge and information networks in shaping economies, societies,
  and cultures in the digital age.
• E.g. showing how sites like LinkedIn, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet are important in the workplace

Question 2

McLuhan

Answer 2

• concept of the global village links to the network society by predicting how electronic media would shrink distances and create a world where people are instantly connected, much like a small village
• This idea aligns with Castells’ network society, where digital networks enable real-time global communication, transforming how we live, work, and
  relate to one another across borders