Social Change; The Internet

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Dear Student,
Hello & once again thank you for using Brainmass. I have encountered a similar enquiry before, relating social change to technological innovation via the advancements in digital communication hence in this solution I retain similar viewpoints. I believe that this concept is familiar to you being yourself a beneficiary of the advancements of digital communication via your use of Brainmass. I have, however zeroed in on blogging to discuss the effects of information sharing via social networks. In your final paper, it will be important for you to add your own experience of the social change digital communication brought (i.e. chatrooms, online education) as this will exhibit total understanding of the concept. This solution should get you started. Good luck!

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones

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On Social Change & Theories of Social Change

"Men must be capable of imagining and executing and insisting on social change, if they are to reform or even maintain civilization, and capable too of furnishing the rebellion which is sometimes necessary if society is not to perish of immobility. "
- Jonathan Pezier, 2005

Social Change from a sociological perspective refers to the alteration/transformation of the nature of social institutions, its structures, the way it's' members behave or relate. Social Change is not the equivalent of social development although social development could be argued as an indicator of social change. Social change can also refer to an event or phenomenon that alters/transforms the behaviours/reactions or manner or a social group of shared values/identity; although subjectively it could also be argued to mean acts of advocacy that causes positive transformations/alterations in society.(1)

There are various theories that can explain social change. 6 are always debated or cited when explaining social change. From a religious point of view there is the theory of degeneration or social decline, when man falls from Grace --- a theory used by theologists. Evolutionary theories including Darwinism --- the survival of the fittest, argue that change happens because human evolution dictates it. Historical materialism, proposed by Karl Marx combines a thorough study of history, economics & society; an explanatory system that looks for causes of developments/change. The theory of social progress looking at history as linear and geared towards development, building on the progress of each generation. Social Cycles or Historical cycles, a pattern of growth and decline of societies looking at social change as phases enclosed in cycles. Sociobiology,a neo-darwinistic study that draws from sociology, anthropology, biology & other sociological and evolutionary studies to explain social behaviour across known species.(2)

Technology & the Social Network

Throughout history, as man progressed technologically, from simple inventions (the wheel, the use of papyrus & paper) in antiquity to the complex mechanics of the 21st century, one can discern the relationship of the earlier technology to the other, a progression that builds on the knowledge of the previous generation, using established ideas from the past to arrive at new truths & new knowledge. As it was, technology & invented mechanics was all about making life better for man, to aid in daily activities, to keep the social network & enhance it.

Man is a social animal. Anthropological studies show that the earliest man gathered together in small bands for survival - social ties ensure a sharing of responsibility and better odds of survival. Belonging in a group created relationships from simple to complex according to need, starting from basic (food, shelter, procreation) to that of self-actualization (contentment, confidence, happiness, pride). From the pre-historic world that the first men belonged to the complex burgeoning feudal systems of the Middle Ages, to that of industrialized nations of the 19th Century to the globalized world of ours in the present living in an unprecedented & intricate combination of technology & social networks, one enhancing the other. The ox & cart of the Feudal Ages evolved to the bus & cars of this century; the Spanish galleons evolved to carrier navy ships that seem like floating cities in the world's oceans. Da Vinci's dream contraption of Daedalean flight has given rice to aeronautical engineering that carry masses from metropolises around the globe through air transport, with planes specialized according to purpose - mass carriers, haulage, military applications & vehicles for exploring beyond the earth.

In all this as man travelled, he reached others beyond his former boundaries and they communicated & ...