We learnt the stream of thought that “technology dictates the way people use it”. It is the technology that is the driving force and it is adapted to meet current social demands. There are different forms of the technology that are relevant to different social groups. These social groups (the customers and users of the internet) are the significant players. But these significant players appear to mould and shape the technology to suit them?

The Castells reading discusses the issue of whether the internet encourages more social interaction, or social isolation. The evidence from this reading suggests that it does the former, which doesn’t particularly surprise me, as the internet has over time allowed me to keep in contact with friends who have perhaps gone overseas who I would not have otherwise kept in touch with.

The internet is allowing us as individuals, to participate in this social phenomenon, and people are becoming more confident and competent about doing so. It is allowing social individualism, which appears to be a growing trend in today’s society.