The Social, Cultural and Environmental Costs of Hyper-Connectivity : Sleeping Through the Revolution

The ebook edition of this title is Open Access, thanks to Knowledge Unlatched funding, and freely available to read online. This book seeks broader critical engagement with the design, development and adoption processes of contemporary digital technologies. Such technology has been the catalyst for great improvements in the fields of medicine, employment, education and communications. Yet, a new digital age has also brought a unique set of societal, cultural and environmental challenges that have yet to be fully understood and, when needed, confronted. It could be argued that aspirations to develop an information super-highway that would be an instrument for human flourishing, has given way to vast stores of worthless trivia and is hijacking our attention at every opportunity. In the absence of robust sociological input at the conceptual stages of digital communication technology development, the probability of these tools and instruments delivering change that is deeply personally, socially, culturally and environmentally damaging will continue to grow. Critical exploration of the organisational, social, political and environmental context of digital communications technology is necessary, without which technology will continue to be left 'to its own device' to determine the social and cultural values of societies, for better or worse. The Social, Cultural and Environmental Costs of Hyper-Connectivity investigates the profound effects 21st century digital technology is having on our individual and collective lives and seeks to confront the realities of a new digital age. Changes brought about by digital technology are frequently disruptive and, thus, need to be designed to protect against harm on society Cover Half Title Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Contents Acronyms About the Author Foreword Acknowledgements 1 | Introduction Our New Digital Age Big Brother Knows Exactly Who You Are! Understanding Technology: Who Designs the Future? Understanding the Digital Age Coming in the Following Chapters? References 2 | The Digital Behemoths The Big Four Google Amazon Facebook Apple So, What’s the Problem? Digital Age Sloganism References 3 | Towards Cultural Homogenisation Is There Digital Diversity? The Rise of European Culture The United States and Big Tech Takes the Reigns What Digital Wants Digital Gets Towards Musical Homogenisation References 4 | The Challenges to Our Innate Cognitive Abilities and Mental Well-being The Human Costs of Digital Technologies? Changing Minds? Humans: The Weakest Link? Surrendering to the Machine Precarious Work A Just Transition References 5 | The Smartphone: A Weapon of Mass Distraction Our New Digital Appendage A Brief History of the Mobile Phones Attraction and Distraction Addiction as a Design Feature The Human Cost of Our Smartphones References 6 | Online Privacy and Surveillance The House Is Watching, and Listening Privacy in the Digital Age Privacy Matters Ground Zero for the Digital Surveillance Digital Surveillance States The Cambridge Analytica Scandal Who Protects Our Privacy? References 7 | Digital Divides Mind the Gap The Digital Haves and Have-Nots The Digital Gender and Race Divides Big Tech’s Role in Economic Inequality The Need for Inclusivity References 8 | An Increasing Ecological Threat The Ecological Fallacy of Digitalisation The Ecological Reality: (Over)Consumption and Mounting Waste The Insatiable Energy Demands of the Digital Age Big Tech’s Clandestine Role in Intensifying Climate Breakdown Digital Technology Alone Cannot Save Us? References 9 | Digital Democracy: The Winners and Losers The Digital Promise of Democracy Watching Freedom Fail Weaponising the Internet against Liberty A Free and Open Press Distrust, Disinformation and Discontent The Retreat from Reality Back to Reality: Enter the Showman The Wizards Behind the Curtain References 10 | Retaking the Reins Make Digital Get Again Doing Nothing Is Not an Option Epilogue References Index

The ebook edition of this title is Open Access, thanks to Knowledge Unlatched funding, and freely available to read online.

This book seeks broader critical engagement with the design, development and adoption processes of contemporary digital technologies. Such technology has been the catalyst for great improvements in the fields of medicine, employment, education and communications. Yet, a new digital age has also brought a unique set of societal, cultural and environmental challenges that have yet to be fully understood and, when needed, confronted. It could be argued that aspirations to develop an information super-highway that would be an instrument for human flourishing, has given way to vast stores of worthless trivia and is hijacking our attention at every opportunity.

In the absence of robust sociological input at the conceptual stages of digital communication technology development, the probability of these tools and instruments delivering change that is deeply personally, socially, culturally and environmentally damaging will continue to grow. Critical exploration of the organisational, social, political and environmental context of digital communications technology is necessary, without which technology will continue to be left 'to its own device' to determine the social and cultural values of societies, for better or worse.

The Social, Cultural and Environmental Costs of Hyper-Connectivity investigates the profound effects 21st century digital technology is having on our individual and collective lives and seeks to confront the realities of a new digital age. Changes brought about by digital technology are frequently disruptive and, thus, need to be designed to protect against harm on society.

This book seeks broader critical engagement with the design, development and adoption processes of contemporary digital technologies. Such technology has been the catalyst for great improvements in the fields of medicine, employment, education and communications. Yet, a new digital age has also brought a unique set of societal, cultural and environmental challenges that have yet to be fully understood and, when needed, confronted. It could be argued that aspirations to develop an information super-highway that would be an instrument for human flourishing, has given way to vast stores of worthless trivia and is hijacking our attention at every opportunity. In the absence of robust sociological input at the conceptual stages of digital communication technology development, the probability of these tools and instruments delivering change that is deeply personally, socially, culturally and environmentally damaging will continue to grow. Critical exploration of the organisational, social, political and environmental context of digital communications technology is necessary, without which technology will continue to be left 'to its own device' to determine the social and cultural values of societies, for better or worse. The Social, Cultural and Environmental Costs of Hyper-Connectivity investigates the profound effects 21st century digital technology is having on our individual and collective lives and seeks to confront the realities of a new digital age. Changes brought about by digital technology are frequently disruptive and, thus, need to be designed to protect against harm on society. -- Provided by publisher