Lesson 11 - Digital Communication - Social Class Flashcards
Introduction to social class and digital communication
It’s very expensive to keep up with latest devices
Some people can’t have high speed internet because of where they live
What is the Digital underclass (AO1)
Digital underclass characterised by unemployment, lower education levels, low digital skills
(eg People who cannot afford latest phone or tablet)
How does digital communication affect education
Education for children relies a lot on digital communication
Knowledge gap created between those with internet access and those without
What is the significance of the digital underclass
(why does it matter that some people have less access to tech)
Results in even greater disadvantage and less social capital
How does being part of the digital underclass affect people
People [may] feel inferior because they aren’t sharing in digital forms of communication
Why does being part of the digital underclass affect people
Information shared through digital communication can shape cultural ideas
if people are excluded from this then they [may] feel removed from what is happening in society
What does Helsper argue about digital communication wrt social class(AO1)
Argued that digital communications are dominated by middle class usage because they can afford to invest in the most recent digital tech
Why does the digital underclass exist according to Helsper (AO1)
Digital underclass exists because the poor lack resources to join in with the new media available
Fun fact! Africa is poor
Stats (AO2)
Out of the 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions 5 billion are from the developing world
Whilst 72% of Africans use mobile phones there are some regional differences:
5% in Eritrea
70% in SA
70% in Nigeria
70% in Kenya
AO3 (-) Feminists say patriarchy is a thing that exists
(there’s two AO3 points in this)
EITHER
Feminists criticise Marxists for ignoring specific problems women face because of patriarchal control of digital communication
e.g. increased opportunities for exploitation of women/children
Little regulation of internet, traffickers have exploited opportunities the internet provides; Hughes, The Centre for Social Justice
OR
Feminists maintain that as digital communication technology is primarily controlled by men, is unregulated and can lead to oppression of women through revenge crimes such as the posting of images on social media can destroy a woman’s reputation and life chances
AO3 (-) Postmodernists say social social class is irrelevant
(there’s two AO3 points in this)
EITHER
Postmodernists claim Marxists are overly pessimistic about the role of digital communication in society; instead they argue digital technological progress presents new opportunities; Collins
OR
Postmodernists say Globalisation has resulted in the waning of significance of social class
AO3 (-) Miller says social class isn’t that deep
As digital communication technologies become cheaper and more affordable overtime, access is increased for the less wealthy; Miller