Impact on Culture

• What are the vital social conventions in American society and how did they become so essential?

One of the new conventions that has evolved based on technology is leaving someone on "read". It's considered very rude to read someone's message and then to not respond. My students often complain about leaving someone on "read" when I ask them to put phones away during class.

• How do we define our “modern society?”

Modern society is defined by technology. We don't consider bronze to be a technology. However, when it was first utilized, it was cutting edge. often literally. During the industrial revolution machines were starting to be used to build things. Lightbulbs were invented and electricity was harnessed. Again, at the time, it was miraculous. Today we take it or granted. When technology ceases to be seen as a novelty and more of a necessity, that's when I think we say it's not modern. So to define modern society I would say that a society must be on the cutting edge of technology to be considered modern. A society that is still using steam to power their locomotives isn't modern anymore.

• How does technology impact the development of societies and cultures and the ways in which children are socialized?

Technology is crucial to societies' development and culture. For example, in the 1930s, it was still very much part of the Polish culture and military to have a horse led cavalry. Germany on the other hand had embraced technology and developed a tank regiment. The German people were being told, and slowly beginning to rebelieve that they were superior to others. So When Germany invaded Poland, their technological and cultural developing of a modern war machine gave German's something to be proud of again. 

In our modern American society, getting a personal phone is just as much a rite of passage as turning 16 and getting a driver's license. These phones are the key to being in the know socially. Seeing the latest memes and videos on social media is every bit a part of a young person's school social experience as going to their first dance or just hanging out with friends in the halls. 

• How does technology impact how we respond to social issues?

Many people use technology to raise awareness of social issues. They post a message, repost a video, a meme, a friend's post on an issue they care about in hopes that people will be more informed and they can affect change. Police brutality is much more in the open because civilians are equipped with cameras and help keep them in check. Reading the news is now an active thing because we can contribute to the conversation. Every story has a comments section and people who couldn't have been heard in the past now have a voice and a global audience.

• How do modern children and adolescents differ from their predecessors?

The newest generation is raised with the newest technology. Because of this, there is s certain fluency when it comes to modern tech. They use it nearly everyday and are therefore practiced with it. Where predecessors teach life lessons and pass on conventional wisdom to the younger generation, the younger generation is training those who came before how to use modern, everyday technology.