Title: Chapter 8. Media and Technology – Introduction to Sociology – 1st Canadian Edition
Headings: Chapter 8. Media and Technology
Chapter 8. Media and Technology
Ron McGivern
Learning Objectives
8.1. Technology Today
8.2. Media and Technology in Society
8.3. Global Implications
8.4. Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology
Introduction to Media and Technology
8.1. Technology Today
What Is Technology?
Technological Inequality
Making Connections: Sociology in the Real World
Planned Obsolescence: Technology That’s Built to Crash
8.2. Media and Technology in Society
Categorizing Technology
Types of Media and Technology
Print Newspaper
Television and Radio
Film
New Media
Making Connections: Sociology in the Real World
Violence in Media and Video Games: Does It Matter?
Product Advertising
8.3. Global Implications
Media Globalization
Making Connections: Careers in Sociology
China and the Internet: An Uncomfortable Friendship
Technological Globalization
Making Connections: Sociology in the Real World
The Mighty Cell Phone: How Mobile Phones Are Impacting Sub-Saharan Africa
8.4. Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology
Structural Functionalism
Commercial Function
Entertainment Function
Social Norm Functions
Life-Changing Functions
Critical Sociology
Control of Media and Technology
Technological Social Control and Digital Surveillance
Feminist Perspective
Symbolic Interactionism
Social Construction of Reality
Social Networking and Social Construction
Key Terms
Section Summary
Section Quiz
8.1. Technology Today
Short Answer
8.1. Technology Today
8.2. Media and Technology in Society
8.3. Global Implications
8.4. Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology
Further Research
References
Solutions to Section Quiz
Image Attributions

Content: Photo courtesy of Carlos Martinez/flickr)
As with any improvement to human society, not everyone has equal access. Technology, in particular, often creates changes that lead to ever greater inequalities. In short, the gap gets wider faster. This technological stratification has led to a new focus on ensuring better access for all. There are two forms of technological stratification. The first is differential class-based access to technology in the form of the digital divide. This digital divide has led to the second form, a knowledge gap, which is, as it sounds, an ongoing and increasing gap in information for those who have less access to technology. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines the digital divide as “the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socio-economic levels with regard to both their opportunities to access information and communication technology (ICTs) and to their use of the Internet for a wide variety of activities.” ( OECD 2001 p.5) For example, students in well-funded schools receive more exposure to technology than students in poorly funded schools. Those students with more exposure gain more proficiency, making them far more marketable in an increasingly technology-based job market, leaving our society divided into those with technological knowledge and those without.