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Control and Resistance in Digital Societies (SOC3) - Coggle Diagram
Control and Resistance in Digital Societies (SOC3)
Critical Approaches to the Information Society
definitions:
information society:
a society where the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity
techno-solutionism:
the belief that technology can solve complex social, political, and economic issues, often leading to an over-reliance on technological fixes
techno-chauvinism
the idea that technology is superior to human capabilities in addressing societal problems
algorithmic identity formation:
the process by which algorithms create and influence individual identities based on online behaviour and data.
ICTs:
information and communication technologies
key approaches
political economy approach -
examines who profits from technology and why, implications for global inequality
decolonial approach -
critiques how information society exacerbates colonial structures of oppression, exploitation and control
intersectional approach -
highlights the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression and their relationship to technology
Luddite Movement -
a historical movement opposing automation and technological progress, advocating for the recognition of the political implications of technology
key issues
electronic waste
: the environmental and social implications of e-waste disposal from the West ending up in developing countries like China, Nigeria and India leading to environmental degradation, highlighting neo-colonial practices
surveillance capitalism
: the commodification of personal data by corporations, leading to new forms of capitalistic control and exploitation
algorithmic identity and representation
could bring in Spivak/Marx 'representation' vs 're-presentation'
who is heard/silenced in information societies
creation of
'devious other'
through algorithmic profiling marginalises certain groups and reinforces stereotypes
users can internalise and reproduce prescribed identities based on algorithmic suggestions, impacting online engagement (link to Fanon/Du Bois)
intersection of algorithmic identity formation and gender-based discrimination
algorithmic surveillance - protests, airports etc.
core thinkers
Robert Mansell, 2010 -
examines historical development and socio-economic implications of information society
Virginia Eubanks -
criticised the use of technology in welfare systems, highlighting how AI can perpetuate poverty and discrimination
'deserved poor'
vs
'undeserved poor
Daniel Bell -
coined term 'post-industrial society' to describe economic transition from manufacturing-based industries to information-based services
criticisms
Cottom, 2020 -
ICTs construct and exacerbate existing racial inequalities, requires a distinct theoretical framework that recognises centrality of ICTs in shaping contemporary socioeconomic landscape
information society too deterministic and negates broader systemic inequalities and power dynamics in contemporary society
obfuscation as privatisation
and
exclusion by inclusion
Benjamin, 2019 -
the "New Jim Code"
, algorithms and digital technologies encode and perpetuate dated forms of segregation and discrimination in societies, often subtle and insidious
algorithms used in hiring processes perpetuate racial biases, e.g. African-American names differentiated and perceived as "made up"
AAVE likewise 'penalised' in hiring processes
Social Media and Social Movements
Key Concepts
Network Society:
a society where key social structures and activities are organised around electronically mediated information networks
(Castells, 1996)
networks are pervasive, decentralised, and accessible
contemporary networks are globally instantaneous and transcend space/time (function bottom-up and top-down)
Coercive Power:
power that resides in the ability to
control bodies
and is usually
centralised
, involving fewer actors and greater visibility, more contestable and usually unsustainable in long run
Persuasive Power:
power that
influences minds
and is increasingly
decentralised
, involving more actors and less visibility, making it harder to contest, more durable
Power (in this context):
resides within the networks that structure society, 2 main forms (coercive and persuasive)
Fundamental Theories
Castells' Theory of Networks - emphasises the role of networks in structuring society and the shift of power dynamics from centralised to decentralised forms
Mutually Reinforcing Power - the interdependence between states and technology corporations in controlling communication infrastructure and data
Social Movements
Zapatista Movement:
Indigenous movement in Mexico that utilised poetry, humour, and storytelling to engage people on issues of power and economy, emphasising autonomy and decentralisation
BLM Movement:
a social movement that used social media to connect communities and organise protests against police brutality, utilised hashtags effectively
counter-movement of 'All Lives Matter/Blue Lives Matter'
demonstrates the dual nature of technology in activism and that not all movements are co-opted in a positive way
states and corporate interest can also exploit movements as they also harness the power of social media against social movements
commodification of social movements, seen in selling of footage of police brutality, raises ethical concerns about intersection of activism and capitalism
Arab Spring/2009 Iranian Twitter Revolution:
social media was used through hidden messages and alternative communication methods to enable civil disobedience and circumvent censorship, leading to government-imposed content filters and internet shutdowns
potential for reclaiming power from below via grassroots movements and alternative information dissemination strategies
Role of Corporations and States in Power Dynamics
Tension between maintaining order and allowing freedom of expression is a critical issue
interdependence of states and corporations - both rely on each other for infrastructure and data, complicates landscape of power, blurs lines between corporate and state authority (link to Elon Musk)
governments may feel threatened by non-state actors that provide alternative avenues for information dissemination (like Musk's 'Starlink' platform)
Representation and Resistance: The Problematics of Big Data and the Politics of the Selfie
Definitions
Selfie:
a self-portrait typically taken with a smartphone, often shared on social media, representing personal identity and self-expression
Digital Dualism:
the belief that the digital world is separate from the physical world; challenged by
Nathan Jurgenson
, who argues that social photography is more about interaction than mere documentation
Agency:
the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices, particularly in the context of self-representation on social media
Visibility:
the state of being seen or noticed, particularly in marginalised communities using selfies to express identities that may be overlooked in traditional media
Key Thinkers
Nathan Jurgenson: a sociologist who critiques the concept of digital dualism and emphasises the interactive nature of social photography, suggests digital and physical worlds are intertwined
Francesca Sobande, 2021
: a scholar who discusses the implications of digital blackface and the appropriation of racial identities on social media
Senft and Baym, 2015:
discuss subjectivity of selfies, how they can convey different messages to various audiences
Fundamental Theories
The Medium is the Message: phrase coined by
Marshall McLuhan
, suggesting that the medium through which content is conveyed influences the perception and is thus as important as the content itself
Disciplining Visibility: idea that social media platforms enforce norms of behaviour and aesthetics, often marginalising those who do not conform to these standards
Demanding Visibility: the expectation for individuals to disclose personal information and maintain an active online presence, leading to surveillance and social pressure
The term
'shadowbanning'
refers to the practice of limiting the visibility of certain content without the user's knowledge
The
Instagram face
refers to a beauty standard promoted on social media that aligns with Eurocentric features
is favoured by social media algorithms and reproduced in AI art
Key Issues & Examples
Content Moderation:
the policies and practices that govern what content is allowed on social media platforms, often leading to biased enforcement based on race or identity
Surveillance:
the monitoring of individuals' online activities by platforms and third parties, raising concerns about privacy and data security
Troll Patrol Report:
findings indicating that Black women are disproportionately targeted with negative comments on social media compared to white women
Clearview AI:
a controversial facial recognition tool that uses images from social media without consent, raising ethical concerns about privacy and surveillance
Case Studies/Key Thinking Points
'engagement based algorithims'
typically short-form content published on apps like Instagram (reels) and TikTok
can be beneficial for activism as succinctly gets message across, attracts attention, can be disruptive, has potential to go mainstream
however can be more detrimental than beneficial, negates nuance and complexity of issues, reductive, can be manipulative (meant to catch attention rather than be an educational source), can sensationalise issues
case study:
Adolescence (Netflix show)
- attention in media has now led to Keir Starmer calling for it to be shown in schools, taking it as a educational source (i.e. a documentary on misogyny and online behaviour of young men) yet it is a dramatised piece of fiction
Migration and Exclusionary Tactics of ICTs
e.g. In April 2025, more than 40 Labour MPs have urged ministers to introduce a new form of digital ID to help control the migration system and improve public services.
links to techno-solutionism
critics of such forms of ID have raised concerns about privacy, civil liberties and the collection of data by the state.