Blog Post #2 - Technological Determinism

I chose technological determinism to relate to “The Prom Queen of Instagram” article because it explains how society today is very driven by social media presence and how people view each other based on what they present on the Internet.  Technological determinism is a term that explains the influence that different technologies have on shaping human cultures and developments. It goes on to explain that the more invested human’s get with technology and its new media the more these media are revolutionizing and shaping how humans live including their social, political, and cultural values.

In the case of Lilli Hymowitz, the “Prom Queen of Instagram” shows how the social media platform Instagram is starting to influence how people view her and how she presents and carries herself. Hymowitz has thousands of followers who are watching out for her posts, sharing her posts, commenting and liking so much that she has built up a reputation for being “cool.” When a person builds up a reputation like this, it is hard for people to view the individual as anything other than what they portray. Lilli’s Instagram was described as “liberating and terrifying” in the article. This is completely valid and is where we see technological determinism come into play because on the one hand, she is able to present a side of her that makes her feel empowered and good about herself while receiving a lot of support from her followers and admirers. On the other hand, this sense of popularity can shape how she lives her life on a daily basis, only making decision because she thinks her Instagram followers will approve. This is how people start to think you’re “cooler than you are” which, can cause anxieties about how you carry yourself both on social media and in everyday life.