Technology changes the way we communicate 1

Your topic: How technology changed the way we communicate with each other socially. Use sociological theories explain how these phenomena occurred; showing how society and how we communicate with each other is impacted by the modern technological advancement. Include the 3 sociological theories from Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Karl Marx or Gerhard Lenski in this assignment. • Highlight and explain specific issues or examples within the chosen subject matter. (For example: social media and its impact; cultural similarities or differences, law and social control etc) • Show an ability to take a position on an issue based on their understanding of Sociology.

Your topic's description: The assignment should be about 1,000 words minimally, in Arial, Font size 12, double paragraph spacing. Please use the APA referencing to cite the sources of the Journals or newspaper. Do include case studies from Singapore's context. I chose Q1. Discuss how technology has changed the way we communicate with each other socially. Your desired style of citation: Assignment

Your educational level: Guaranteed First Class

Refrencing Style: APA Referencing

Number of page: 4Words: 1000

Technology changes the way we communicate 2

How technology changed the way we communicate with each other socially

[Writer name]

[Institute name]

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Chosen question

“Ways which explain that technology changed the way we communicate with each

other socially”

I have taken the question related to technology and its changing attitude towards

people’s way of communication. In this way, I’m using Singaporean context for

referring the examples and issues in its context.

I have chosen this topic since in this era, technology is revolving each day and for

that reason, the means of communication is also changing day by day and each

country practice its specific means of communication or some of them prefer to

reach to different and variant way of communication.

It is noted that the new communications technologies are based on computers,

multimedia computers, local area networks (LANs), Internet, digital TV) that could be

clear operationally as systems and resources are for processing, storage and

diffusion of digitised information that is based on use of computer technology, are

causing reflective changes and alterations of social and cultural nature, as well as

economic. To such an extent the social impact of new technologies is so controlling

that states are entering into a new period or stage of human civilisation, which is

assumed as the "knowledge society" (Boyd and Crawford, 2012).

It is noted that the way we communicate each other has changed forever.

However, the proximity of email has exchanged the traditional letters, moreover, the

instant messaging has replaced the talk or chatting on telephone and through which

they can sent millions of SMS. The Internet-based technology has swapped post

offices, network, access points, and contacted people around the world (Boyd and

Crawford, 2012).

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Furthermore, blogs have also swapped the concept of daily diaries as there was

the time when people used to share their experiences and express opinions on their

diaries. This concept has replaced it from blogs (Boyd and Crawford, 2012).

One prime example from Singaporean context is related to Shangri-La Hotel that

engages its guests in Asia through WeChat, which is a social application, which

changes the way people, connect and communicates with each other. People can

make their accommodation and dinning reservations through this app and can get

special offers by understanding the hotel’s facilities (Shangri-La, 2014).

1. Sociology theory relevant to question

In this regard, I’ll be using theories of Lenski, Weber, and Marx. They have explained

the change attitude and behavior towards the variant means of communication

socially.

i. There is a Lenski’s evolutionary theory, which states that society evolves with

respect to change in social environment and natural environment. This

sociocultural change is based on innovation and extinctions. The innovation

includes the technologies, institutions, social practices and believes of the system

(Elwell, 2013).

ii. According to Max Weber, sociology is a science of social action and he believed

the understanding that why people perform such things is assumed as the basic

building block of sociology, which is basically a concept termed as Verstehen.

He further believed that the sociologists must not just study the group of people

but also try to achieve an assumed understanding for the individuals in that group

(Elwell, 2013).

iii. Marx also emphasis on the process of social change, which is assumed as the

central thinking, which it notifies as the force of history as Marx is not mainly seen

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in extra-human agency. The process of production, however, can do only for the

relationship with others, which makes man in establishing its nature with the help

of reflected social relationships (Elwell, 2013).

2. Issues and examples related with the question or subject matter

In this era, we are actually indulged in virtual communication that goes along with

emotionally since the written messages are now

at its declining stage and emotions are now

substituted by "emoticons", which are image,

which express a feeling or sensation on behalf

of that person. This practice cause individuals

from different social settings and have become

unresponsive and uncaring.

People of Hong Kong used mobile

texting as a social technology since they

think about low cost, functionality and

coordination of every event through texting.

However, it is stated that mobile texting is

mainly found in common Chinese people’s

life. Thus, the mobile texting is used to stay

in contact with different kinds of formal and

informal means of communication in China

(Yun, 2012).

Another aspect is from Kuwait, which has

mentioned that communication technologies

have changed the way of experiencing life

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plus it has changed the interaction system by means of which women express

themselves. Interaction with genders and accessibility to beneficial content and

creative public expression has facets, which bound the societal traditions and

taboos.

3. Show ability to take position on issue based on understanding of sociology

The technological development is assumed as a dynamic process, which never

stops since this is a live changing world and in that way, the living conditions are

changing with the passage of time. Thus, this aspect identifies new strategies in a

constant way as it affects the people since the presence generates with the

subsequent changes that becomes with continuous cycle (Ellison and Boyd, 2013).

It is noted that Singapore has own brand of social media influencers for those

who are savvy and young. The influencer is something with buzzword in Singapore

as explained by the Straits Times. However, majority of the companies are taking

into account with social media analysis as it holds in online environment, which is

difficult to completely understand.

Singaporean people are using Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. These

websites including other are giving benefits to the people of Singapore. For instance,

Champion Tutor who is a renowned Singaporean tuition agency, which helps

specifically the young students and their parents to find their best and easy way to

use this search engine. This specific website is helping different students and in that

way, they are communicating with each other through means of online chat.

This raises the need for national democratic policies in the field of information

and communication that are integrated policies aimed at the preservation of genuine

cultural values of the peoples and we must implement mechanisms to evaluate the

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impact of new technologies. Such evaluation should start from a political - social and

ethical perspective.

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References

Journal articles

Crawford, K., Kranzberg, M., & Bowker, G. (2012). Critical questions for big data:

Provocations for a cultural, technological, and scholarly phenomenon.

Information, Communication & Society, 15(5), 662-679.

Ellison, N. B., & Boyd, D. (2013). Sociality through social network sites. The

Oxford handbook of internet studies, 151-172.

Elwell, F. L. (2013). Sociocultural systems: principles of structure and change.

Athabasca University Press.

Przybylski, A. K., & Weinstein, N. (2013). Can you connect with me now? How the

presence of mobile communication technology influences face-to-face

conversation quality. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30(3),

237-246.

Yun, X. (2012). Chinese use of mobile texting for social interactions: Cultural

implications in the use of communication technology. Intercultural

Communication Studies, 21(2), 131-150.

Online

Hashmeta, 2015, Social Media Singapore 2015 [Infographic]

http://www.hashmeta.com/social-media-singapore-infographic/

Shangri-La, 11 September, 2014, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore Launches First-

Ever Social Programme with WeChat to Engage Guests in Asia,

http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/press-room/press-

releases/shangri-la-hotel-singapore-launches-first-ever-social-programme-

with-wechat-to-en/

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Appendix

Example of social application used by Shangri-La (a Singaporean hotel)

Singapore info-graphic