TECHNOLOGY AND

SOCIAL CHANGE
WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?

• The creation of tools, objects, or methods, that extend both our

natural abilities, and later our social environment. Anything from
a coffee cup to and ipod can be viewed as technology.
WHAT WAS THE GREATEST INVENTION OF THE
MILLENNIUM WHICH HAS IMPACTED THE MOST CHANGE?

• The printing press in 1450 created by Johannes Gutenberg

• This invention took the process of reading out of wealthy circles and
monasteries and into the hands of the ordinary people.
• Books became more affordable and became the method of choice
when circulating new ideas.
• This invention took the process of reading out of wealthy circles and
monasteries and into the hands of the ordinary people
• Martin Luther used the printing press to his advantage in the 1500s
when he challenged church doctrine starting off what has come to
be known as the Reformation While the printing press brought us
many good things it also changed the way we tell stories
GREATEST INVENTION OF THE MILLENNIUM
CONT’D.
• Memorization and oral recitation begin to lose favour after the
printing press.
• The church starts to lose some of its control over the
congregation as bibles become more accessible to the public
• Luther uses the printed word to start the Reformation
 TECHNOLOGY BRING WITH IT A DEGREE OF
SOCIAL CHANGE…
• Technology challenges the nature of change. Does
change begin with the individual or the technology?
• Technology has strongly affected the way societies are
designed and how they keep changing
• People receive their information more quickly
• People can communicate in different ways
• Negative and positive consequences to the introduction
of new technology
• Social Change Theory looks at the factors contributing to change
within the structure of society
• Change has to start with society and a belief that change is good
and warranted
• Does change begin with the individual or the technology?
• A new concept suggests that social change can be initiated by
another force: technology.
• This is called technological determinism: the invention of a
particular tool (ie. Computer) takes on a life of its own after it has
been introduced, with society simply reacting to the new
technology.
 TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM

• Thorstein Veblen ( 1857-1929) – first proposed theory

• Technological Determinism – a view that social change is initiated by technology and
not necessarily the individual.
• Sees invention of a particular tool, such as the computer, as taking on a life of its own
after it has been introduced with society simply reacting to the new technology.
• The impact and effect is out of our control once introduced in society.

“We shape our tools, and and tools shape us ”

-Marshal McLuhan
USING TECHNOLOGY FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
  NETWORKS FOR MOBILIZING — GETTING
MEMBERS OUT
Many groups use social networks for mobilizing —
Getting members out
• to an event
• to sign a petition
• to donate for a cause

focuses on organizing — creating an educated constituency of people who can

motivate others.
 SOCIAL NETWORKS 

• Social networks are an integral part

of an organizing strategy, because
communication and engagement
are what they're all about.
  NEW TECHNOLOGY = NEW STRESS

 Technology can have a negative side effect. (i.e freedom to access information
such as pornography, hate propaganda, etc.)
 Keeping up with the speed of technological change
 future shock disorientation brought on by technological advancements,
creating a sense that the future as arrived prematurely
 hyperculture refers to the overwhelming rate of change in modern
technological societies
 Overdependence load
 Technosis an overblown attachment to or overdependence on technology
• While we are for the most part eager to accept and use new
technological advancements we have to be aware of the negative
consequences of these technological advancements

• Internet has allowed many people to access useful information but has
also allowed easy access to porn sites, hate sites and other dangerous
sites on the web that parents don’t want their children seeing
• Society has grown so dependent on technology that when it doesn’t work we feel
tremendous anxiety
• The invention of new technologies brought about a new “mass culture” that all
social classes could participate in (ie. Radio/ TV saw families gain new methods of
entertainment)
• Electricity and heat and new appliances become important in homes as people’s
lives become easier – this is not true in every case as it did not necessarily mean
that women had a lighter workload, they were just expected to do more
 SOCIAL ISOLATION

• Social Isolation: Addictive use of TV / video games / internet can lead to

social isolation, increased depression, academic failure, financial debt of
job loss
• Societies have relied on social interaction and dialogue for centuries to
survive, what happens if this element is taken out of our lives?
Example: room that is centered around the television; individual who
spends all time in front of a computer would lack social skills
 THEORY ON CULTURAL LAG

William Ogburn – analysis of the effects of technology and the

environment. He developed the theory of Cultural Lag.
Cultural Lag describes the process of integration to technology.
Acceptance of new technology goes through three phases:
• Invention
• Discovery
• Diffusion
If all three are verified then technology has been successfully integrated into
society.
• Technology introduces change that temporarily destabilizes
society and, until society adapts, a period of transition occurs.

• Ogburn identifies that there are a group of people that impede

change that technology may bring by resisting and rejecting
technology. Members who oppose technology are referred to as
“Luddite”
 RESISTANCE TO CHANGE

“Luddites” is a term taken from the name of people who

belonged to a secret society whose goal it was to destroy new
textile machines during the early years of the Industrial
Revolution in England, 1810.
ONLINE SOURCE

• Technology and Social Change. Nigel Miller. Retrieved October 27, 2021 from
https://slideplayer.com/slide/8048014/
• Forces of Social Change. Hollie Melton. Retrieved October 27, 2021 from
https://slideplayer.com/slide/10371212/