MODULE 5: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Overview

The internet and telecommunication industry in the 1990s changed the way we connect and
exchange information. Digital technology impacted people in many ways—by the way people
live, work, learn, and socialize. Digital technology comprises electronic tools, devices, and
systems that generate, store, and process data. It enables us to experience the benefits of
advanced information technology systems, such as efficiency and productivity, improved
communication and collaboration, and faster acquisition of information. In this lesson, we will
discuss the digital age and its effect on society, the two essential theories in technology, and
how technological change takes place.

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

 Explain the role of ICT in social change.

 Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and imminent threats of the digital
age.
 Articulate basic, but fundamental definitions of complex issues and dynamics that
humans encounter every day, such as technology, social progress, development, and
digitalization.

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Digital Age

The digital age, also known as the Information age, is a period when the computer and internet
were introduced. It is caused by the rapid shift from traditional industry to computerization, all
the way to artificial intelligence brought on by the Industrial Revolution. These technologies
enabled people to communicate information easily and rapidly. Digital technology became
prevalent and widely used around the world. Information can be accessed easily, especially
with the use of the internet. House chores and jobs are getting automated with the help of
machines and equipment. Mobile phones became very useful in every area of life—education,
entertainment, jobs, etc. Digital technologies have radically changed the way people work,
consume, and communicate over a short period of time.

The ICT and its Role in Social Change

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has the power to transform society. ICT is
defined as a group of interrelated technologies (electronic devices) for accessing, processing,
and disseminating information. It is a system of electronic networks activated through complex
hardware and software systems linked by a vast array of technical protocols. ICTs are
indisputably important in our social setting today. The term ICTs has been used to embrace
technological innovation and merging in information and communication, transforming our
world into information or knowledge societies. The rapid development of these technologies
has blurred the boundaries between information, communication, and various types of media.

The development of a society mostly depends on access to information. The Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) greatly ease the flow of information and knowledge,
offering the socially marginalized community an extraordinary chance to attain their rights
socially, economically, educationally, and politically. Despite ICT’s massive potential, the current
global information outburst has had surprisingly little impact on development activities and
access to practical information for rural communities, local people, and development workers
in developing countries.

The emergence of the Internet, World Wide Web, mobile phones, digital television, and several
other new electronic devices related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) are
opening fresh passageways for transforming the way we live, work, learn, and communicate. It
also provides strategic opportunities for diverse and significant social and economic benefits to
people across the globe. ICTs enable financial inclusion through m-commerce and allow people
to connect with millions instantaneously.

Entertainment

With the advent of new technologies, the world of entertainment is constantly evolving. Digital
broadcasting has completely changed the way we experience television and radio. Cinema can
now be found at the comfort of your home through applications such as Netflix, iFlix, etc. We
get entertained by the content we see on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Computer
gaming has also been an important influence in the development of graphical interfaces.
Technology has been at the forefront of changes in the production and distribution of music.
We can now listen to music and podcasts using Spotify. These are just a few of the many
technologies we use for entertainment that arose in the Digital Age.

Business

The impact of ICT on business is particularly significant. It empowers people to share knowledge
and advice instantaneously and set up an online shop or website at a low cost, dramatically
lowering the barriers to starting a business. As such, ICT maturity is closely linked to economic
growth.
Businesses today have promoted a lot with the advent of ICT. Its impact cannot be
overemphasized. For example, ICT helps to increase productivity in business with the use of
social media platforms for marketing and promotion. The use of websites now allows
companies to develop new and cheaper ways of offering customers opportunities to buy goods
and services at their convenience, enhancing customer service. Online platforms have become
the marketplace where people can transact and communicate.

The impact of ICT infrastructure on social businesses cannot be understated. It has made social
impact affordable, scalable, and enables new ways to connect to and engage with local
communities.

Education

The impact of ICT on teachers, trainers, learners, researchers, and the entire educational
community is tremendous. It is changing the way education is delivered around the world by
enhancing access to information for all. It also ensures effective and inclusive education. ICT
supports the concept of open learning, where the focus is on enhanced student access and the
development of student autonomy.

ICT can play varied roles in developing an effective learning environment. It assists teachers in
explaining core content concepts and addressing misconceptions. It acts as a stimulant,
fostering analytical thinking and interdisciplinary studies. It networks learners with their peers
and experts, developing a collaborative atmosphere. It plays the role of a guide and mentor by
providing tailor-made instructions to meet individual needs. Online learning facilitates
education through digital modes. With the help of multimedia, it enhances the effectiveness of
teaching and learning, proving crucial for early learners, slow learners, and differently-abled
students.

Modern ICT tools not only deliver content but also replicate formal learning experiences via
virtual classrooms. The intention of virtual classrooms is to extend the structure and services
that accompany formal education programs from the physical environment to learners.

ICT also addresses the need for mobile learning. It offers independence and flexibility that come
from working away from the learning institution or tutor. It makes education accessible to all,
irrespective of geographical barriers or resource constraints. Learners from remote areas,
working individuals who wish to learn further, and differently-abled students who find traveling
difficult, benefit from mobile learning.

Digital resources in classrooms can help prepare students for a digital society and economy.
Digital technologies can unlock new learning opportunities by providing students access to a
wider range of resources, complementing the teacher in learning processes (computer-assisted
learning), and offering other advantages, such as access to motivational and informational
resources associated with tertiary education programs.

Jobs and Earnings

Beyond income security, employment fulfills a number of important roles for human well-
being, such as time structure, social contact, a sense of purpose, a valued social position, and an
opportunity for skill use. For this reason, the labor market effects of the digital transformation
are among the most significant for people’s well-being. The digital transformation has the
potential to generate substantial changes in the composition of the labor market as jobs
requiring certain skill sets are replaced by a combination of technology and higher-skilled labor,
or even completely automated. At the same time, digitalization creates opportunities by
generating new jobs in existing industries, with greater job-to-job mobility facilitated by online
job search tools. The digital economy fundamentally changes the nature of work for many
people, with fewer jobs exerting physical demands but more jobs placing emotional strain on
desk workers.

Digital Technologies May Destroy Jobs at Risk of Automation

While the previous section has pointed out the lack of evidence of the negative effects of
technological change on overall employment so far, several authors have argued that ICT-based
technological change will be more profound than previous instances of technological change.
This argument is primarily supported by the observation that the labor-saving potential of
digital technologies is far greater than in the case of previous technological changes. As a result,
automation may, in the future, have much more impactful consequences on the need for
human labor than it has so far.

For the moment, while a shift away from manufacturing jobs has been observed, this has not
translated into overall losses in employment, as middle-skill jobs have been replaced by new
high-skill and low-skill jobs. Concerns about job automation are warranted, especially to make
the case for the need to invest in the most appropriate skills for the future digital economy.

Teleworking (Work-from-Home) Allows People to Save Time and Combine Their

Work and Personal Lives

Teleworking offers an opportunity for work-life balance, improving time management and
reducing time spent commuting. A variety of studies have found that employees who engage in
telework report higher job satisfaction. Teleworkers report reduced commuting times, more
flexibility in organizing their work time, and better overall work-life balance.

Health

Digitalization can affect people's health through new physical and mental health risks and its
impact on healthcare delivery. Health risks associated with digital transformations include
mental health problems due to excessive use of digital technologies, especially among children
and teenagers, and the crowding out of other activities such as physical exercise. Digital health
technologies, such as electronic health records, new treatment options, telecare, and
teleconsultations, are also transforming healthcare delivery.

Extreme Use of Digital Technologies May Have Negative Mental Health Effects

The effects of mobile phones, video games, and the prevalence of ubiquitous screens on the
mental health of children and teenagers have raised significant concern. The potential risks of
addiction are particularly high. Research suggests that extreme use of the internet and digital
technologies can trigger neurological processes similar to other addictive substances and
activities.

Theories in Technology

Technological Determinism
This theory strongly believes that technology shapes the culture, values, and social structures of
a society. Technological innovation is seen as the cause of social progress. Technology controls
society and influences human thought and action.

Social Constructivism
Social Constructivism suggests that humans play the primary role in shaping technology, rather
than technology shaping society. People and social groups shape technologies to suit their
needs, values, and cultural contexts. Thus, it is society that defines the role of technology.

Summary

The digital age and ICT have transformed the way we interact with information, businesses,
entertainment, education, and other social functions. Although it has led to immense
advantages like communication efficiency, enhanced access to knowledge, and new job
creation, it has also introduced challenges like job displacement and mental health concerns.
Understanding the dynamics of technology, how it influences social change, and how we
interact with it can help shape a better, more balanced digital future.