1. “Thirty years ago we asked what we would use computers for. Now the
question is what don’t we use them for” (Turkle 2011). Using two examples,
critically evaluate the impact digital technologies have had on contemporary
social life.
This question invites you to think about the idea of technological ubiquity and then
reflect on the impacts and implications of this ubiquity by using two examples. You
can draw on any of the themes discussed in the unit.
The key readings for this essay are found in these texts:
Rainie, J. & Wellman, B. (2012) Networked: The New Social Operating System.
Cambridge MA, MIT Press. (Resource List Lecture 11 and Final Essay Readings)
Van Dijk, J. (2012) The network society. 3rd Edition Sage. (Resource List Lecture
11 and Final Essay Readings)
The specific chapter(s) you will find helpful will depend on the examples you
choose. If you were looking at relationships and families for instance chapters 5
and 6 of Networked focus on these. This is true of most of the general readings
that are provided later in the handbook under the unit 3 section. Choose your
examples then have a look at the contents page of these general readings to help
you explore the readings.