jarrett-et-al-2024-dialogues-on-digital-society

Dialogues on Digital Society

Introduction to Digitalisation Impact

  • Historical Context: Raymond Williams analyzed the statement "television has altered our world", critiquing it for reducing the complex interplay between technology and social change to overly simplistic perspectives:

    • Technological determinism views technology as the sole causative factor.

    • Viewing technology merely as a symptom ignores its developmental politics.

  • Williams' Proposition: He suggested a nuanced framework examining the interactions between technology and societal structures, recognizing both as active agents in shaping each other.

The Digital Era Today

  • Shift from Television to Digital: Today, claims about societal change are often made in relation to digitalisation. Key digital technologies include:

    • Internet

    • Data systems

    • Mobile devices

    • Social media

    • Biotech

  • Complex Interactions: Digital technologies influence various social aspects:

    • Thought processes

    • Personal and communal relationships

    • Cultural creation and experience

    • Work and consumption patterns

    • Governance and political action

    • Environmental and bodily experiences

  • Critical Examination Needed: Understanding digitalisation's impact is essential to grasp contemporary dynamics. Digital systems are not neutral, as they are influenced by political, social, and economic agendas, potentially entrenching inequalities.

Political Dimensions of Digital Technologies

  • Social and Power Relations: Digital technologies reflect human design decisions, often aligned with corporate interests, raising questions about:

    • The potential for perpetuating societal inequities.

    • The positive and negative consequences of technology on different groups.

  • Everyday Implications: Daily interactions with digital technology extend beyond impact and include meanings, challenges, and personal experiences that can reshape intended outcomes.

A Call to Interrogate

  • Societal and Technological Interrelationship: To comprehend a society transformed by digitalisation, scrutiny is required regarding:

    • Political dependencies in technological artifacts.

    • Community responses to technology usage.

    • Understanding the nature and implications of societal change in a digital context.

The Purpose of the Journal

Overview and Aim

  • Dialogues on Digital Society: This journal seeks to document and explore the interwoven relationship between digital technologies and society, addressing pertinent issues across disciplines.

  • Focus Areas: Contributions will focus on:

    • Politics and implications of digitalisation.

    • Everyday experiences with technologies and their multifaceted impacts.

  • Interdisciplinary Approach: The journal undergoes cross-disciplinary research during its editorial process, fostering diverse perspectives from authors in different academic fields.

Publication Dynamics

  • Innovative Formats: Submissions will undergo peer-review with subsequent open commentaries to promote ongoing critical discussions within the field.

  • Research and Review Forums: Each edition will offer:

    • Extensive articles focusing on novel concepts in digital society.

    • Responses and critiques from peers and authors, ensuring a vibrant dialogue environment.

    • Reviews of various cultural artifacts that enrich the field of digital studies.

  • Scope of Contributions: The journal welcomes diverse submissions addressing significant issues in digitalisation across all relevant disciplines.

Conclusion and Future Directions

  • A Hub for Big Ideas: Dialogues on Digital Society aims to advance understanding of the complexities in digital societies while being open to new ideas and discussions that reflect the ever-evolving nature of technology and its interactions with daily life.