Literally, ‘Society’s Technology’

Possible Meaning 1Possible Meaning 2  a technology that does what it is that society does  a technology that society uses to mediate between itself

 We have begun LIBS 7007 by getting solid scientific grounding in its two titular aspects: ◦ TECHNOLOGY ◦ SOCIETY  Now the pay-off. We use our solid foundation to make empirical progress in understanding specific locii of technology & society  This is not a course of convincing by arguments: it is demonstrating by empirics.

 We begin with ‘social media’ as our first specific case for several reasons: 1.Its effects are happening in real-time, right before all our eyes. 2.No-one—no-one—knows what the eventual stasis will be. 3.Everyone agrees that the effects are in part very harmful  with suicides, an empirical fact; not an assertion. 4.The matter is huge and widespread, therefore easy to recognise & engage. 5.Proof that the influence of a technology on society is transformational, not localised or additive.

 the medium is the message: ◦ what people transmit over social media is secondary—the medium itself sends a message to the entire society  new ratio of senses: one is amplified and others struggle to compensate ◦ telephone is auditory; text messaging is haptic & visual  a new technology reconfigures the entire society  extension-amputation-alienation

 Technology alienates by its nature ◦ road rage is an example  Social media is a amputation of the social  Amputated from ‘psycho-social integration’, amputated individualism results  Social media=hyper-individualism. 4 Stages: 1.individual control 2.individual isolation 3.individual absence of control 4.suicide: an ultimate act of individual control