Week 7 & 8: Community and Technology in Society

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Questions and Answers

What behavior exemplifies civil inattention in a public space?

Engaging in prolonged conversation with strangers

Ignoring others completely

Glancing at others and quickly averting gaze (correct)

Making eye contact and smiling at passersby

How do closed persons signal their unavailability in public?

By embodying civil inattention (correct)

By making direct eye contact

By initiating conversations with strangers

By using their phones frequently

Which of the following is considered an 'open' persona?

A person who avoids eye contact

A public figure engaging with fans (correct)

A person reading a book in the park

Someone sitting alone at a bar

What was a common public behavior prior to the use of cellphones that demonstrated civil inattention?

Reading newspapers Signup and view all the answers

What was a common reaction to the introduction of the telephone in the 1800s?

Skepticism and fear about surveillance Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the two spheres of technology according to Jonas?

Traditional technologies are stationary and require direct human input. Signup and view all the answers

What concern does Heidegger express regarding modern technology?

It may obscure the reality of its impact on society. Signup and view all the answers

According to Grant, how does technological destiny impact society?

It influences various aspects of society and personal identity. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential danger of dependence on technology as discussed in the content?

It blurs our perception of technology's dangers and drawbacks. Signup and view all the answers

What is Heidegger's proposed approach towards technology?

Detach ourselves and critically question its purpose in society. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of the hacker mindset?

Mistrust of authority Signup and view all the answers

How do hackers perceive their own activities compared to public perception?

They view themselves as creative problem solvers, unlike the public who sees them as criminals Signup and view all the answers

Which tenet of the hacker philosophy promotes the idea of continuous self-education?

Learn for yourself Signup and view all the answers

What does the hacker community define as a central goal regarding information?

All information should be free Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to problem-solving is typically associated with hackers?

An unorthodox approach that fosters creative solutions Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about hackers?

They engage in illegal activities exclusively for profit Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of the hacker tenets emphasizes collaboration?

Share your knowledge Signup and view all the answers

What is considered an important factor for evaluating a person's value within the hacker community?

Knowledge and willingness to learn Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant evolution in surveillance practices mentioned?

Data collection and analysis through digital technology Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase best describes the current value of information in society?

Information is the new gold/oil. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the act of peers monitoring each other's social media activities?

Creeping Signup and view all the answers

Who coined the term 'surveillance capitalism'?

Shoshana Zuboff Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of surveillance capitalism?

Monetization of personal data Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes technology's role in surveillance?

It provides tools for collection, storage, and analysis of data. Signup and view all the answers

What is the original meaning of the term 'surveillance'?

Observation or watching over Signup and view all the answers

How do algorithms contribute to surveillance in advertising?

They create predicted advertising based on past behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'actual self' refer to in Higgins' framework?

The self based on one's true physical and social attributes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts refers to the overlap of different parts of one's life on social media?

Context collapse Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of 'persistence' in the context of social networking sites?

It means data can be retrieved indefinitely from profiles Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of 'ideal self' differ from 'ought to be' self?

Ideal self is about personal aspirations; ought to be self reflects moral expectations Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'online disinhibition effect' describe?

The tendency to disclose more personal feelings online than offline Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of social media enhances the ability to find information about others?

Searchability Signup and view all the answers

What does identity play involve in the context of social media?

Experimenting with different versions of the self online Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary way social media influences the concept of friendship?

It allows for the documentation and tracking of relationships over time Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'liquid surveillance' refer to?

Constant and flexible monitoring of individuals in a modern context. Signup and view all the answers

Which agency is known for conducting mass surveillance as revealed by Snowden's leaks?

National Security Agency (NSA) Signup and view all the answers

What is one criticism of the capitalist perspective on surveillance?

It overlooks the social reasons for surveillance. Signup and view all the answers

Which countries are part of the 'Five Eyes' alliance?

Australia, Canada, USA, England, New Zealand Signup and view all the answers

Why do some people welcome surveillance according to the capitalist perspective?

They derive productivity benefits from it. Signup and view all the answers

What did Edward Snowden's leaks primarily expose?

NSA's collection of internet activity without proper authorization. Signup and view all the answers

What is one internal form of surveillance mentioned in the capitalist perspective?

Using assembly lines to track worker efficiency. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of surveillance, what does CSIS primarily focus on?

Gathering intelligence for national and international security. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Week 7: Community in the Network Society

Communities act as reference groups for understanding self
Cooley's "looking-glass self" describes how interactions shape our self-perception
Reference groups are those against which individuals evaluate their situation
Communities provide normative standards and comparison points for behavior, skills, and achievements
Digital technologies challenge traditional community definitions based on physical boundaries
Technology facilitates communities across time and space
Online echo chambers can limit perspectives due to algorithmic filtering
Community is viewed through different lenses: geography, shared interests, and society as a whole
Tönnies distinguished between Gemeinschaft (close-knit) and Gesellschaft (loose connections) relationships within communities
Tönnies identified three factors of Gemeinschaft

Technology is increasingly used for building and maintaining relationships
Increased time spent digitally interacting has risen since 2003-2022, by 1 hour 39 minutes
Loneliness is now considered a significant public health concern in the states.
Online interactions, while creating new communities, can still present feelings of loneliness.
Relationships formed through technology can replace face-to-face interactions.
Civil inattention (treating strangers with politeness, but maintaining a distance) in public spaces is challenged by technology
Different perspectives on how technology affects social relationships: saved, enhanced, or liberated communities
Ways to signal openness or closeness to others through digital interaction (technology signals the level of interaction with strangers)

Week 9: Surveillance Society

Increased public and private surveillance through digital technologies (data collection, analysis, storage)
Technology gives tools for surveillance (collection, storage, analysis of data)
Surveillance is used to maintain order and comply with existing regulations.
Surveillance affects privacy, and raises concerns about how much information about individuals is shared with companies, governments, or personal networks
Surveillance is not inherently bad.
Surveillance can be used to protect people from threats such as terrorism and cyberattacks
People want to be aware of how they are watched (and potentially able to avoid it)
5 Eyes alliance countries (US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia): collect information
Technological surveillance makes society more transparent to others (especially those in positions of power)

Week 10: Ethics & Technology

Ethical implications of technology, and its responsible development and deployment.
Bias in AI systems
Social implications of technology
Impact of technological development

Week 11: Ethics & Technology (cont.) & other topics

Individuals’ ethical/moral responsibilities and concerns regarding the use of technology and potential societal harms.
Impacts of technology on traditional social concepts and relationships (such as friendships and family).
Impacts of technology on ethical concepts and moral concerns.
How to measure and evaluate the social costs and benefits of technology.
Implications of technology on different aspects of society, such as economy, environment, and culture.
Ways in which technology is used for exploiting or oppressing vulnerable populations (including the use of technology for hate spread and extremism).
Possible future of technology and what it possibly may bring.

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Description

This quiz explores the concepts of community in the network society, highlighting the impact of digital technologies on social relationships. It covers key theories from sociologists like Cooley and Tönnies, and examines how online communities and echo chambers shape our self-perception and interactions. Test your understanding of these important social dynamics and their implications.