Tech in Society

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

The​ ​Influence​ ​of​ ​Technological​ ​Innovation​ ​and​ ​Integration​ ​on​ ​Society Wyatt​ ​Griffith SOC:367​ ​History​ ​of​ ​Sociological​ ​Thought

0

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION A​ ​theme​ ​that​ ​appears​ ​consistently​ ​in​ ​the​ ​development​ ​of​ ​social​ ​theory​ ​is​ ​that​ ​of technological​ ​innovation​ ​and​ ​integration.​ ​From​ ​the​ ​invention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​spinning​ ​jenny​ ​to​ ​the integration​ ​of​ ​cell​ ​phones​ ​in​ ​daily​ ​life,​ ​theorists​ ​have​ ​battled​ ​over​ ​the​ ​potential​ ​benefits​ ​and​ ​risks associated​ ​with​ ​technology.​ ​Now​ ​technology​ ​has​ ​developed​ ​to​ ​point​ ​where​ ​it​ ​is​ ​integrated​ ​in every​ ​aspect​ ​of​ ​life,​ ​and​ ​this​ ​trend​ ​is​ ​continuing​ ​at​ ​an​ ​exponential​ ​rate.​ ​Current​ ​cell​ ​phones contain​ ​more​ ​technology​ ​than​ ​the​ ​Apollo​ ​11​ ​spacecraft​ ​and​ ​are​ ​considered​ ​a​ ​necessity​ ​in​ ​modern society.​ ​As​ ​we​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​advance,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​analyze​ ​our​ ​actions​ ​and​ ​the​ ​impacts​ ​they have​ ​on​ ​society.​ ​Thus​ ​I​ ​will​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​current​ ​ ​tech​ ​boom​ ​from​ ​the​ ​perspectives​ ​of​ ​Herbert Spencer​ ​and​ ​Georg​ ​Simmel​ ​and​ ​determine​ ​whose​ ​theory​ ​more​ ​accurately​ ​describes​ ​the​ ​influence of​ ​technological​ ​advancement​ ​and​ ​integration​ ​on​ ​modern​ ​society.

HERBERT​ ​SPENCER Herbert​ ​Spencer​ ​is​ ​known​ ​for​ ​using​ ​concepts​ ​from​ ​biology​ ​and​ ​anthropology​ ​to​ ​explain social​ ​phenomena​ ​and​ ​develop​ ​theory.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​these​ ​concepts​ ​is​ ​that​ ​of​ ​the​ ​social​ ​organism.

Spencer​ ​develops​ ​this​ ​concept​ ​by​ ​drawing​ ​parallels​ ​between​ ​society​ ​and​ ​a​ ​living​ ​organism.​ ​This begins​ ​by​ ​stating​ ​that​ ​societies​ ​are​ ​“neither​ ​supernatural,​ ​nor...determined​ ​by​ ​the​ ​wills​ ​of individual​ ​men....but​ ​are​ ​consequent​ ​on​ ​general​ ​natural​ ​causes.”​ ​(Spencer​ ​1972:54)​ ​He​ ​then extends​ ​this​ ​analogy​ ​to​ ​the​ ​evolution​ ​of​ ​both​ ​organisms,​ ​drawing​ ​“four​ ​parallelisms”(Spencer 1972:57)​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two:​ ​the​ ​augmentation​ ​of​ ​mass,​ ​the​ ​increasing​ ​complexity,​ ​the interdependence​ ​among​ ​components,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​development​ ​of​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​independent​ ​from​ ​the

1

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

development​ ​of​ ​the​ ​components.​ ​Each​ ​of​ ​these​ ​concepts​ ​holds​ ​true​ ​today​ ​and​ ​helps​ ​describe​ ​the influence​ ​of​ ​technology​ ​on​ ​society.

Augmentation​ ​of​ ​Mass The​ ​augmentation​ ​of​ ​mass​ ​explains​ ​how​ ​organisms​ ​grow​ ​in​ ​physical​ ​size​ ​throughout​ ​the course​ ​of​ ​their​ ​life.​ ​“Commencing​ ​as​ ​small​ ​aggregations,​ ​they​ ​insensibly​ ​augment​ ​mass,” (Spencer​ ​1972:57)​ ​growing​ ​into​ ​larger​ ​versions​ ​of​ ​their​ ​infantile​ ​self.​ ​This​ ​can​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​in​ ​the ever​ ​increasing​ ​urban​ ​growth.​ ​The​ ​percentage​ ​of​ ​the​ ​population​ ​living​ ​in​ ​urban​ ​areas​ ​has increased​ ​from​ ​34%​ ​to​ ​54%​ ​from​ ​1960​ ​to​ ​2014.​ ​(WHO​ ​2015)​ ​This​ ​increase​ ​is​ ​paralleled​ ​with​ ​an increase​ ​in​ ​urban​ ​landmass.​ ​The​ ​city​ ​of​ ​Dubai​ ​has​ ​grown​ ​from​ ​a​ ​3.2​ ​km^2​ ​area​ ​in​ ​1955​ ​to​ ​a​ ​501 km^2​ ​area​ ​by​ ​2004.​ ​(Fazal​ ​2008)​ ​This​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​mass​ ​has​ ​been​ ​correlated​ ​to​ ​the​ ​discovery​ ​of oil​ ​in​ ​1996​ ​and​ ​the​ ​resulting​ ​economic​ ​growth.(Fazal​ ​2008)

Fig​ ​1:​ ​Growth​ ​of​ ​Dubai​ ​Between​ ​1991​ ​and​ ​2005 (Tech​ ​e​ ​2012)

2

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

Increasing​ ​Complexity The​ ​increasing​ ​complexity​ ​in​ ​structure​ ​describes​ ​the​ ​growth​ ​of​ ​simple​ ​communities​ ​into larger​ ​more​ ​complex​ ​superstructures.​ ​This​ ​can​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​clearly​ ​in​ ​the​ ​American​ ​bureaucratic system.​ ​Between​ ​the​ ​cabinet​ ​departments,​ ​regulatory​ ​agencies,​ ​and​ ​government​ ​corporations, experts​ ​estimate​ ​there​ ​are​ ​over​ ​ ​2000​ ​independent​ ​bodies​ ​operating​ ​within​ ​the​ ​US​ ​government.

(US​ ​History)​ ​Each​ ​of​ ​these​ ​groups​ ​has​ ​a​ ​specific​ ​function​ ​and​ ​place​ ​within​ ​society.​ ​This​ ​leads​ ​to an​ ​incredibly​ ​intricate​ ​system​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​running​ ​one​ ​nation.​ ​ ​Not​ ​to​ ​mention​ ​the​ ​other​ ​200 countries​ ​with​ ​their​ ​own​ ​agencies,​ ​or​ ​international​ ​organizations​ ​that​ ​regulate​ ​the​ ​nations themselves.​ ​The​ ​result​ ​of​ ​this​ ​complexity​ ​is​ ​Spencer’s​ ​next​ ​parallelism,​ ​interdependence.

Interdependence Society​ ​has​ ​evolved​ ​to​ ​a​ ​point​ ​where​ ​“the​ ​activity​ ​and​ ​life​ ​of​ ​each​ ​part​ ​is​ ​made​ ​possible only​ ​by​ ​the​ ​activity​ ​and​ ​life​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rest.”​ ​(Spencer​ ​1972:57)​ ​Every​ ​aspect​ ​of​ ​society​ ​has​ ​been specialized​ ​such​ ​that​ ​no​ ​area​ ​can​ ​truly​ ​support​ ​itself​ ​anymore.​ ​The​ ​local​ ​self​ ​sustaining communities​ ​are​ ​dying​ ​in​ ​favor​ ​of​ ​larger​ ​urban​ ​life.​ ​This​ ​urban​ ​lifestyle​ ​is​ ​dependent​ ​on​ ​many different​ ​industries​ ​to​ ​support​ ​its​ ​large​ ​population.​ ​Agricultural​ ​communities​ ​provide​ ​food​ ​for entire​ ​nations,​ ​manufacturing​ ​cities​ ​provide​ ​products​ ​for​ ​citizens​ ​and​ ​corporations​ ​alike,​ ​and​ ​tech centers​ ​develop​ ​and​ ​progress​ ​technology​ ​for​ ​humanity​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole.​ ​If​ ​one​ ​sector​ ​were​ ​to​ ​fail​ ​the rest​ ​would​ ​suffer​ ​accordingly.​ ​Take​ ​for​ ​example​ ​the​ ​2011​ ​floods​ ​in​ ​Thailand.​ ​The​ ​“disaster​ ​shut down​ ​14,000​ ​factories,”​ ​many​ ​of​ ​which​ ​produce​ ​hard​ ​drives.​ ​The​ ​hard​ ​drive​ ​industry​ ​constructs 40%​ ​of​ ​its​ ​hard​ ​drives​ ​in​ ​Thai​ ​factories,​ ​causing​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​dip​ ​in​ ​the​ ​supply​ ​and​ ​an​ ​international price​ ​spike.​ ​This​ ​in​ ​turn​ ​affected​ ​the​ ​hardware​ ​and​ ​computer​ ​industry​ ​by​ ​increasing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​of

3

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

components.​ ​(Dignan​ ​2011)​ ​These​ ​ripple​ ​effects​ ​signify​ ​a​ ​reliance​ ​on​ ​specialized​ ​production zones​ ​and​ ​interconnection​ ​between​ ​industries.​ ​ ​However,​ ​even​ ​if​ ​these​ ​components​ ​fail,​ ​society as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​grow.

The​ ​Whole​ ​Independent​ ​From​ ​the​ ​Parts Society​ ​can​ ​bounce​ ​back​ ​from​ ​anything,​ ​individuals​ ​are​ ​not​ ​as​ ​lucky.​ ​Despite​ ​all​ ​the wars,​ ​depressions,​ ​epidemics,​ ​and​ ​natural​ ​disasters​ ​society​ ​has​ ​persevered.​ ​Governments​ ​have risen​ ​and​ ​fallen,​ ​people​ ​have​ ​lived​ ​and​ ​died​ ​but​ ​humanity​ ​still​ ​exists​ ​and​ ​is​ ​stronger​ ​than​ ​ever.

Society​ ​has​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​evolve​ ​despite​ ​the​ ​over​ ​150,000​ ​people​ ​dying​ ​every​ ​day.​ ​(MORT) Human​ ​life​ ​expectancy​ ​has​ ​doubled​ ​since​ ​the​ ​1800’s,​ ​most​ ​of​ ​which​ ​coinciding​ ​with​ ​the​ ​tech boom.​ ​(Roser​ ​2015)​ ​Advances​ ​in​ ​medicine,​ ​transportation,​ ​and​ ​electronics​ ​have​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​a society​ ​that​ ​is​ ​stronger​ ​than​ ​ever​ ​before.

4

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

Fig​ ​2:​ ​Life​ ​Expectancy​ ​In​ ​the​ ​UK

Micro-Level Additionally,​ ​this​ ​view​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​helpful​ ​in​ ​analyzing​ ​current​ ​technological​ ​trends​ ​on​ ​a smaller​ ​scale.​ ​On​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​level,​ ​technology​ ​is​ ​more​ ​prevalent​ ​than​ ​ever.​ ​Most​ ​individuals use​ ​technology​ ​on​ ​a​ ​daily​ ​basis​ ​to​ ​do​ ​every​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​task.​ ​Technology​ ​has​ ​become​ ​so commonplace​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​imagine​ ​a​ ​time​ ​before​ ​it​ ​existed.​ ​One​ ​great​ ​example​ ​of​ ​the prominence​ ​of​ ​technology​ ​in​ ​daily​ ​life​ ​is​ ​the​ ​cell​ ​phone.​ ​The​ ​first​ ​mobile​ ​phone​ ​call​ ​was​ ​placed in​ ​1973(About​ ​Money)​ ​and​ ​after​ ​40​ ​years​ ​ ​90%​ ​of​ ​Americans​ ​own​ ​a​ ​cell​ ​phone.64%​ ​ ​of​ ​them own​ ​a​ ​smartphone​ ​(Pew​ ​2014),​ ​and​ ​72%​ ​of​ ​those​ ​owners​ ​check​ ​it​ ​at​ ​least​ ​once​ ​an​ ​hour.(Newport 2015)​ ​The​ ​population​ ​of​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States​ ​was​ ​about​ ​320​ ​million​ ​people​ ​in​ ​2012.​ ​(Census​ ​2015) This​ ​means​ ​that​ ​smartphones​ ​are​ ​checked​ ​over​ ​3.5​ ​billion​ ​times​ ​a​ ​day​ ​in​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States​ ​alone.

It​ ​seems​ ​as​ ​though​ ​the​ ​cell​ ​phone​ ​has​ ​integrated​ ​itself​ ​seamlessly​ ​into​ ​the​ ​human​ ​organism.

GEORG​ ​SIMMEL Even​ ​though​ ​Georg​ ​Simmel​ ​is​ ​often​ ​considered​ ​less​ ​important​ ​than​ ​his​ ​contemporaries, his​ ​short​ ​essays​ ​provide​ ​good​ ​insight​ ​into​ ​social​ ​interactions​ ​with​ ​technology.​ ​His​ ​typologies​ ​of people​ ​are​ ​applicable​ ​to​ ​modern​ ​society​ ​and​ ​can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​analyze​ ​how​ ​different​ ​people​ ​interact with​ ​technology.​ ​Additionally,​ ​his​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​social​ ​distance​ ​is​ ​an​ ​interesting​ ​way​ ​to​ ​frame​ ​our relationship​ ​with​ ​technology.

5

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

Typologies In​ ​The​ ​Stranger​ ​and​ ​The​ ​Miser​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Spendthrift​ ​Simmel​ ​sets​ ​up​ ​ideal​ ​typologies​ ​of different​ ​characters​ ​present​ ​in​ ​society.​ ​This​ ​practice​ ​can​ ​be​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​modern​ ​society​ ​with​ ​a focus​ ​on​ ​technology,​ ​resulting​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Tech​ ​Savant​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Luddite.​ ​This​ ​categorization​ ​may initially​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​simply​ ​divide​ ​the​ ​old​ ​from​ ​the​ ​young​ ​but​ ​there​ ​are​ ​elderly​ ​Savants​ ​and​ ​young Luddites.​ ​Examples​ ​of​ ​this​ ​can​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​in​ ​20​ ​year​ ​olds​ ​who​ ​don’t​ ​participate​ ​in​ ​social​ ​media​ ​and 80​ ​year​ ​olds​ ​who​ ​own​ ​curved​ ​TVs​ ​and​ ​an​ ​onslaught​ ​of​ ​iDevices.

The​ ​Tech​ ​Savant The​ ​Tech​ ​Savant​ ​always​ ​has​ ​the​ ​latest​ ​and​ ​greatest.​ ​He​ ​will​ ​wait​ ​in​ ​line​ ​for​ ​the​ ​new iPhone​ ​and​ ​demand​ ​top​ ​specs​ ​on​ ​any​ ​electronics​ ​he​ ​purchases.​ ​Every​ ​device​ ​he​ ​purchases​ ​must be​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​end​ ​and​ ​he​ ​will​ ​often​ ​replace​ ​it​ ​immediately​ ​when​ ​the​ ​new​ ​version​ ​comes.​ ​In addition​ ​to​ ​having​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​end​ ​device,​ ​he​ ​must​ ​also​ ​have​ ​all​ ​the​ ​new​ ​types​ ​of​ ​devices.​ ​His refrigerator​ ​has​ ​a​ ​tablet​ ​built​ ​into​ ​the​ ​door,​ ​his​ ​house​ ​can​ ​be​ ​controlled​ ​from​ ​his​ ​phone,​ ​and​ ​he has​ ​a​ ​different​ ​appliance​ ​for​ ​every​ ​situation.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​huge​ ​bias​ ​and​ ​brand​ ​loyalty​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to tech​ ​companies​ ​and​ ​will​ ​spout​ ​off​ ​dense​ ​technical​ ​reasons​ ​for​ ​why​ ​his​ ​brand​ ​is​ ​better.​ ​In​ ​this regard​ ​he​ ​may​ ​even​ ​contradict​ ​his​ ​love​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​technologically​ ​advance​ ​because​ ​of​ ​his​ ​blind loyalty​ ​to​ ​some​ ​brand.​ ​He​ ​will​ ​defend​ ​it​ ​to​ ​the​ ​death​ ​and​ ​when​ ​the​ ​tech​ ​specs​ ​prove​ ​him​ ​wrong he​ ​will​ ​find​ ​some​ ​other​ ​aspect​ ​that​ ​outweighs​ ​those​ ​specs.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​result​ ​he​ ​finds​ ​himself​ ​incredibly tech​ ​competent​ ​but​ ​is​ ​hopelessly​ ​lost​ ​without​ ​it.​ ​He​ ​can​ ​complete​ ​multiple​ ​tasks​ ​simultaneously and​ ​is​ ​always​ ​doing​ ​something​ ​but​ ​if​ ​his​ ​phone​ ​dies​ ​on​ ​him​ ​he​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​charge​ ​it​ ​before continuing​ ​with​ ​his​ ​day.​ ​If​ ​this​ ​is​ ​not​ ​an​ ​option​ ​he​ ​will​ ​likely​ ​fail​ ​and​ ​freak​ ​out​ ​as​ ​he​ ​has​ ​no

6

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

concept​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​before​ ​technology.​ ​He​ ​cannot​ ​read​ ​a​ ​map,​ ​do​ ​basic​ ​math,​ ​or​ ​communicate with​ ​people​ ​without​ ​the​ ​safety​ ​blanket​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cell​ ​phone.​ ​This​ ​leaves​ ​him​ ​disadvantaged​ ​when removed​ ​from​ ​modern​ ​society​ ​and​ ​left​ ​to​ ​his​ ​own​ ​device.

The​ ​Luddite The​ ​Luddite​ ​on​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand​ ​has​ ​an​ ​immense​ ​distrust​ ​for​ ​technology.​ ​The​ ​term originates​ ​from​ ​textile​ ​workers​ ​who​ ​(rightfully)​ ​feared​ ​machines​ ​would​ ​take​ ​their​ ​jobs.​ ​Now​ ​it​ ​is applied​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​not​ ​only​ ​has​ ​trouble​ ​using​ ​technology​ ​but​ ​also​ ​has​ ​a​ ​resistance​ ​to​ ​learn.

He​ ​cannot​ ​avoid​ ​technology​ ​entirely​ ​because​ ​of​ ​its​ ​prevalence​ ​in​ ​society​ ​but​ ​he​ ​does​ ​the​ ​best​ ​that he​ ​can.​ ​The​ ​little​ ​technology​ ​that​ ​he​ ​uses​ ​represents​ ​the​ ​most​ ​basic​ ​level​ ​of​ ​technology.​ ​The Luddite​ ​still​ ​has​ ​a​ ​flip​ ​phone,​ ​dial​ ​up​ ​internet,​ ​and​ ​Windows​ ​95.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​no​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​better versions​ ​of​ ​these​ ​devices​ ​and​ ​still​ ​believes​ ​the​ ​old​ ​way​ ​is​ ​better.​ ​He​ ​would​ ​give​ ​up​ ​what​ ​little​ ​ties to​ ​technology​ ​he​ ​has​ ​if​ ​it​ ​did​ ​not​ ​exclude​ ​him​ ​from​ ​basic​ ​amenities.​ ​He​ ​believes​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is important​ ​to​ ​write​ ​in​ ​cursive,​ ​send​ ​actual​ ​letters,​ ​and​ ​physically​ ​turn​ ​each​ ​page​ ​of​ ​a​ ​book.​ ​He thinks​ ​that​ ​new​ ​technology​ ​has​ ​spoiled​ ​this​ ​generation​ ​and​ ​ruined​ ​life​ ​as​ ​he​ ​knows​ ​it.​ ​This person​ ​has​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​trouble​ ​and​ ​frustration​ ​dealing​ ​with​ ​modern​ ​society​ ​and​ ​is​ ​often​ ​seen​ ​arguing with​ ​pre-recordings​ ​and​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​fix​ ​things​ ​by​ ​smacking​ ​them.​ ​This​ ​leaves​ ​him​ ​at​ ​a​ ​disadvantage in​ ​many​ ​situations,​ ​even​ ​if​ ​the​ ​tried​ ​and​ ​true​ ​methods​ ​still​ ​work.​ ​He​ ​may​ ​not​ ​do​ ​everything​ ​as quickly​ ​or​ ​efficiently​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Tech​ ​Savant​ ​but​ ​when​ ​technology​ ​fails,​ ​the​ ​Luddite​ ​will​ ​likely​ ​not even​ ​notice.​ ​He​ ​mocks​ ​Savants​ ​when​ ​they​ ​address​ ​letters​ ​incorrectly​ ​or​ ​don't​ ​know​ ​how​ ​to entertain​ ​themselves​ ​when​ ​the​ ​power​ ​goes​ ​out.​ ​The​ ​Luddite​ ​thrives​ ​in​ ​rural​ ​life​ ​and​ ​attempts​ ​to live​ ​as​ ​though​ ​Steve​ ​Jobs​ ​and​ ​Bill​ ​Gates​ ​never​ ​existed.

7

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

Social​ ​Distance In​ ​The​ ​Stranger​ ​Simmel​ ​set’s​ ​up​ ​the​ ​base​ ​units​ ​of​ ​social​ ​interaction​ ​and​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​of “social​ ​distance”.​ ​He​ ​proposes​ ​that​ ​the​ ​smallest​ ​forms​ ​of​ ​social​ ​interaction​ ​are​ ​“dyads”​ ​and “triads”​ ​ ​which​ ​are​ ​groups​ ​of​ ​two​ ​or​ ​three​ ​people​ ​respectively,​ ​connected​ ​by​ ​a​ ​social​ ​bond.​ ​All larger​ ​interactions​ ​can​ ​be​ ​broken​ ​down​ ​and​ ​analyzed​ ​on​ ​this​ ​scale.​ ​These​ ​bonds​ ​both​ ​“attract” and​ ​“repulse”​ ​people​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​“social​ ​distance”.​ ​This​ ​distance​ ​regulates​ ​interactions​ ​between individuals​ ​and​ ​is​ ​a​ ​representation​ ​the​ ​relationships​ ​between​ ​individuals.​ ​These​ ​concepts​ ​are useful​ ​in​ ​analyzing​ ​how​ ​technology​ ​has​ ​changed​ ​the​ ​ways​ ​people​ ​interact.​ ​First​ ​of​ ​all​ ​it​ ​is important​ ​to​ ​note​ ​that​ ​devices​ ​have​ ​become​ ​actors​ ​in​ ​these​ ​“dyads”​ ​and​ ​“triads”.​ ​A​ ​modern​ ​dyad would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​person​ ​and​ ​his​ ​phone.​ ​The​ ​person​ ​can​ ​sit​ ​alone​ ​in​ ​a​ ​room​ ​playing​ ​games,​ ​browsing the​ ​internet,​ ​and​ ​otherwise​ ​interacting​ ​with​ ​his​ ​phone.​ ​But​ ​if​ ​he​ ​is​ ​interacting,​ ​doesn’t​ ​that​ ​mean that​ ​he​ ​is​ ​not​ ​alone?​ ​This​ ​concept​ ​is​ ​explored​ ​deeply​ ​by​ ​Sherry​ ​Turkle​ ​in​ ​her​ ​TED​ ​talks​ ​and writings​ ​where​ ​she​ ​introduces​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​being​ ​“Alone​ ​Together”.​ ​She​ ​proposes​ ​that electronic​ ​devices​ ​are​ ​capable​ ​of​ ​simulating​ ​emotions​ ​and​ ​give​ ​humans​ ​a​ ​feeling​ ​of​ ​connection.

In​ ​her​ ​TED​ ​talk​ ​she​ ​brings​ ​up​ ​the​ ​example​ ​of​ ​her​ ​daughter​ ​texting​ ​her​ ​“Mom​ ​you​ ​will​ ​rock.”​ ​and compares​ ​it​ ​with​ ​“getting​ ​a​ ​hug.”​ ​This​ ​situation​ ​represents​ ​a​ ​modern​ ​triad​ ​where​ ​Turkle,​ ​her daughter,​ ​and​ ​her​ ​phone​ ​are​ ​all​ ​involved.​ ​The​ ​phone​ ​ ​simulates​ ​and​ ​transmits​ ​the​ ​emotions generated​ ​by​ ​her​ ​daughter.​ ​Here​ ​the​ ​cell​ ​phone​ ​is​ ​not​ ​only​ ​acting​ ​as​ ​a​ ​member​ ​of​ ​a​ ​triad,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​also reducing​ ​the​ ​social​ ​distance​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​other​ ​members.​ ​In​ ​fact,​ ​technology​ ​(specifically communication​ ​technology)​ ​appears​ ​to​ ​have​ ​reduced​ ​the​ ​social​ ​distance​ ​between​ ​everyone​ ​with access​ ​to​ ​it.​ ​I​ ​can​ ​send​ ​an​ ​instant​ ​message​ ​to​ ​my​ ​friend​ ​across​ ​campus,​ ​call​ ​my​ ​family​ ​in Cleveland,​ ​and​ ​video​ ​chat​ ​with​ ​my​ ​friends​ ​in​ ​Russia​ ​all​ ​while​ ​sitting​ ​on​ ​the​ ​toilet.​ ​In​ ​fact​ ​if​ ​I

8

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

were​ ​sufficiently​ ​Tech​ ​Savvy​ ​I​ ​could​ ​do​ ​it​ ​all​ ​simultaneously.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​technology​ ​has drastically​ ​reduced​ ​the​ ​“social​ ​distance”​ ​it​ ​has​ ​only​ ​really​ ​done​ ​so​ ​in​ ​a​ ​physical​ ​sense.​ ​The repulsions​ ​and​ ​attractions​ ​reliant​ ​on​ ​other​ ​factors​ ​still​ ​apply​ ​and​ ​are​ ​even​ ​more​ ​important.

Without​ ​physical​ ​distance​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ ​social​ ​distance​ ​must​ ​be​ ​determined​ ​by​ ​these​ ​factors,​ ​some​ ​of which​ ​are​ ​also​ ​altered​ ​by​ ​the​ ​introduction​ ​of​ ​technology.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​ ​I​ ​could​ ​theoretically​ ​call Obama​ ​on​ ​the​ ​phone​ ​to​ ​chat​ ​but​ ​his​ ​elevated​ ​social​ ​status​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​highly​ ​unlikely​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have access​ ​to​ ​his​ ​phone​ ​number​ ​or​ ​that​ ​he​ ​would​ ​respond​ ​if​ ​I​ ​did.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​technology​ ​has inadvertently​ ​produced​ ​a​ ​new​ ​type​ ​of​ ​repulsive​ ​force.​ ​This​ ​force​ ​is​ ​one​ ​that​ ​modern​ ​people​ ​are all​ ​too​ ​familiar​ ​with​ ​and​ ​one​ ​that​ ​Turkle​ ​finds​ ​disturbing.​ ​The​ ​best​ ​way​ ​to​ ​examine​ ​this​ ​is​ ​to imagine​ ​a​ ​barber’s​ ​shop​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​1900’s​ ​vs​ ​one​ ​now.​ ​If​ ​one​ ​does​ ​this​ ​they​ ​would​ ​likely​ ​find the​ ​1900’s​ ​shop​ ​full​ ​of​ ​conversation​ ​and​ ​the​ ​modern​ ​shop​ ​ ​full​ ​of​ ​people​ ​silently​ ​playing​ ​on​ ​their phone.​ ​“People​ ​text​ ​or​ ​do​ ​email​ ​during​ ​corporate​ ​board​ ​meetings.​ ​They​ ​text​ ​and​ ​shop​ ​and​ ​go​ ​on Facebook​ ​during​ ​classes,”​ ​(Turkle​ ​2014)​ ​they​ ​find​ ​themselves​ ​interacting​ ​with​ ​technology​ ​so deeply​ ​that​ ​they​ ​lose​ ​face​ ​to​ ​face​ ​interaction.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​now​ ​the​ ​case​ ​that​ ​two​ ​family​ ​members​ ​in​ ​the same​ ​room​ ​are​ ​farther​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​each​ ​other​ ​than​ ​they​ ​are​ ​from​ ​whichever​ ​friend​ ​they​ ​are texting.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​new​ ​distance​ ​generated​ ​between​ ​people​ ​occupying​ ​the​ ​same​ ​physical​ ​location but​ ​a​ ​different​ ​location​ ​mentally.

CONCLUSION Even​ ​though​ ​both​ ​of​ ​these​ ​theorists​ ​are​ ​accurate​ ​at​ ​describing​ ​the​ ​rapid​ ​growth​ ​and influence​ ​of​ ​technology,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​some​ ​disadvantages​ ​with​ ​each​ ​method.​ ​The​ ​most​ ​prominent​ ​of these​ ​is​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​macro​ ​and​ ​micro​ ​sociology.​ ​Spencer​ ​is​ ​mostly​ ​a​ ​macro-theorist

9

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

and​ ​thus​ ​describes​ ​the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​technology​ ​on​ ​society​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​while​ ​Simmel​ ​takes​ ​the micro​ ​approach.​ ​Spencer’s​ ​ideas​ ​can​ ​be​ ​extrapolated​ ​to​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​level​ ​however,​ ​he​ ​did​ ​not make​ ​that​ ​connection​ ​so​ ​it​ ​might​ ​not​ ​even​ ​count​ ​as“Spencer’s​ ​theory”.​ ​Another​ ​issue​ ​with Spencer’s​ ​theories​ ​are​ ​that​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​directly​ ​apply​ ​to​ ​the​ ​innovation​ ​and​ ​integration​ ​of technology​ ​in​ ​society.​ ​He​ ​explains​ ​the​ ​continued​ ​industrialization​ ​and​ ​urban​ ​growth​ ​which​ ​has become​ ​almost​ ​synonymous​ ​with​ ​tech​ ​growth​ ​in​ ​the​ ​20th​ ​century,​ ​but​ ​isn’t​ ​necessarily​ ​the​ ​same thing.​ ​Simmel​ ​isn’t​ ​perfect​ ​either,​ ​he​ ​lacks​ ​any​ ​insight​ ​into​ ​how​ ​technology​ ​affects​ ​society​ ​as​ ​a whole.​ ​He​ ​also​ ​hyperbolizes​ ​his​ ​typologies​ ​for​ ​a​ ​more​ ​dramatic​ ​difference​ ​even​ ​though​ ​most members​ ​of​ ​society​ ​will​ ​fall​ ​somewhere​ ​in​ ​between​ ​each​ ​type.​ ​When​ ​combined​ ​the​ ​theories provide​ ​a​ ​holistic​ ​view​ ​of​ ​technologies​ ​influence​ ​on​ ​society.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​accurately​ ​explain modern​ ​society,​ ​there​ ​must​ ​be​ ​one​ ​theory​ ​to​ ​describe​ ​the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​technological​ ​innovation on​ ​the​ ​evolution​ ​of​ ​society​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​theory​ ​to​ ​describe​ ​the​ ​integration​ ​of technology​ ​into​ ​daily​ ​life.​ ​This​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​which​ ​theory​ ​is​ ​better​ ​at describing​ ​the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​technological​ ​innovation​ ​and​ ​integration​ ​on​ ​society,​ ​but​ ​Spencer​ ​has trick​ ​up​ ​his​ ​sleeve.​ ​His​ ​idea​ ​that​ ​the​ ​organism​ ​evolves​ ​independent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​components​ ​allows​ ​us to​ ​have​ ​two​ ​theories.​ ​If​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​evolves​ ​independently​ ​from​ ​its​ ​components​ ​then​ ​perhaps​ ​the whole​ ​must​ ​be​ ​described​ ​independently​ ​from​ ​its​ ​components.​ ​Two​ ​theories​ ​are​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​fully describe​ ​this​ ​situation​ ​as​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​distinction​ ​between​ ​society​ ​and​ ​individuals.​ ​Thus​ ​I​ ​conclude that​ ​Herbert​ ​Spencer’s​ ​theory​ ​of​ ​social​ ​evolution​ ​is​ ​a​ ​more​ ​comprehensive​ ​theory​ ​for​ ​describing the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​technological​ ​innovation​ ​and​ ​integration​ ​in​ ​society​ ​than​ ​Georg​ ​Simmel’s​ ​theory is.

10

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

Works​ ​Cited Census.​ ​2015.​ ​“U.S.​ ​And​ ​World​ ​Population​ ​Clock.”​ ​Population​ ​Clock.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (http://www.census.gov/popclock/).

Dignan,​ ​Larry.​ ​2011.​ ​“Thailand​ ​Floods​ ​to​ ​Lead​ ​to​ ​Hard​ ​Drive​ ​Shortages​ ​for​ ​Months​ ​| ZDNet.”​ ​ZDNet​.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (http://www.zdnet.com/article/thailand-floods-to-lead-to-hard-drive-shortages-for-months/).

Fazal,​ ​Fatema.​ ​2008.​ ​“The​ ​Urban​ ​Development​ ​in​ ​Dubai,​ ​A​ ​Descriptive​ ​Analysis.”

Uppsala​ ​University​ ​Department​ ​of​ ​Economics​.

Newport,​ ​Frank.​ ​2015.​ ​“Most​ ​U.S.​ ​Smartphone​ ​Owners​ ​Check​ ​Phone​ ​At​ ​Least​ ​Hourly.”

Gallup.com.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (​http://www.gallup.com/poll/184046/smartphone-owners-check-phone-least-hourly.aspx​) Pew.​ ​2014.​ ​“Mobile​ ​Technology​ ​Fact​ ​Sheet.”​ ​Pew​ ​Research​ ​Center​ ​Internet​ ​Science​ ​Tech RSS.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015​ ​(http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/mobile-technology-fact-sheet/).

11

TECH​ ​IN​ ​SOCIETY

Roser,​ ​Max.​ ​2015​ ​.​ ​‘Life​ ​Expectancy’.​ ​Published​ ​online​ ​at OurWorldInData.org.​Retrieved​ ​from:( http://ourworldindata.org/data/population-growth-vital-statistics/life-expectancy/) Simmel.​ ​In​ ​Charles​ ​Lemert​ ​(ed.).​ ​2013.​ ​5th​ ​ed.​ ​Social​ ​Theory:​ ​The​ ​Multicultural​ ​and Classic​ ​Readings.​ ​Boulder:​ ​Westview​ ​Press.“The​ ​Stranger,”​ ​pp.​ ​139-142.

Simmel.​ ​In​ ​Donald​ ​Levine​ ​(ed.)​ ​1971.​ ​George​ ​Simmel.​ ​On​ ​Individuality​ ​and​ ​Social Forms.​ ​Chicago,​ ​IL:​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Chicago​ ​Press.​ ​“The​ ​Miser​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Spendthrift,”​ ​pp.​ ​179-186.

Spencer,​ ​Herbert.​ ​J.​ ​D.​ ​Y.​ ​Peel​ ​(ed.).​ ​1972.​ ​Herbert​ ​Spencer:​ ​On​ ​Social​ ​Evolution.

Chicago,​ ​IL:​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Chicago​ ​Press.​ ​“The​ ​Social​ ​Organism,”​ ​pp.​ ​53-70.

Tech​ ​e.​ ​2012.​ ​“Tech​ ​e​ ​Blog.”​ ​Techeblog​ ​Posts.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/mind-blowing-growth-of-dubai-then-vs-now).

Turkle,​ ​Sherry.​ ​2012.​ ​“Connected,​ ​But​ ​Alone?”​ ​TED​ ​Talks.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together?language=en).

US​ ​History.​ ​“The​ ​Organization​ ​Of​ ​the​ ​Bureaucracy.”​ ​ushistory.org​.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (​http://www.ushistory.org/gov/8b.asp​).

WHO.​ ​2015.​ ​“Urban​ ​Population​ ​Growth.”​ ​WHO​.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015 (​http://www.who.int/gho/urban_health/situation_trends/urban_population_growth_text/en/​).

World​ ​Fact​ ​Book.​ ​2011.​ ​“Birth​ ​&Amp;​ ​Death​ ​Rates​ ​|​ ​Ecology​ ​Global​ ​Network.”​ ​Ecology Global​ ​Network.​ ​Retrieved​ ​2015​ ​(http://www.ecology.com/birth-death-rates/).

12