‘Technological determinism’ and ‘social construction of technology’ are two polarized theories, at either end of the spectrum. “If technological determinism locates cause with the technology, and social constructivism locates cause with people, a third perspective, sometimes called social shaping emphasizes a middle ground” (Baym, 51). Since the social shaping of technology theory lies somewhere in the middle of this so-called spectrum, it is the theory that best fits with my own interpretation of society, communication and culture.
In terms of the anxieties surrounding interactive digital media, this is explicitly evident in “The Prom Queen of Instagram”. If we consider Lilli Hymowitz to be a representation of the relatively small percentage of individuals that are considered to be “Instagram famous”, placing these people at one end, and the general Instagram-using public at the other, we will be able to see issues developing at both ends. With respect to authenticity, Hymowitz references this issue directly when she says “I think people think I’m cooler than I am”. We have an issue with authenticity here since there is likely a disconnect between the way Hymowitz (or any online celebrity) would be perceived online, versus in the flesh. With online identities, we have the opportunity to construct ourselves in the ways we desire to. Real life is much more candid. With respect to continuous interaction, so much of the general public is so addicted to receiving this constant updates, being forever linked in. Whether it’s following Lilli Hymowitz’s Instagram feed, or “liking” a friend’s photo, the process is never really dormant. This value that we seem to have as a collective society (at the very least of my generation) I believe is a fundamental characteristic of our human nature, but that is facilitated and exacerbated by technology.
When deciding which theoretical framework I was going discuss in relation to the anxieties evidenced in the article “The Prom Queen of Instagram,” at first I thought that the technological determinism theory best fit. After reading through all of the different theories, I then realized that the social shaping of technology theory related more, as I feel that both people and machines have the capacity to influence both technology and society. After reading your post, it is evident that I am not the only one who felt this way, so I am happy that I am not alone in supporting this theory. You have made some important points in your blog post – I definitely agree that reality is much more candid in comparison to the virtual world where Lilli’s followers think that she is cooler than she actually is. Although it is sad, at least Lilli realized and was able to admit it.
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