This article explores the relationship between technological advancement and social change through the lens of technological determinism and social constructionism, using a variety of examples to argue that technology is a driving force for social change.
Technology has almost always accompanied humans since they emerged, forming groups and developing societies. Technology is the sum total of the processes that Paleolithic humans used to make things they wanted, such as building fires for a warm place to sleep and food, or breaking stones to make stone axes. These early technologies had a direct impact on human survival, helping us adapt to our environment and utilize resources efficiently. They weren’t just about making tools, they were instrumental in changing social structures and ways of life.
In today’s society, however, both the processes and outcomes of technology have become more complex, and people are always looking for more than the current technology. The explosion of technological advancements since the Industrial Revolution has brought about social change so profound that it can be said to have redefined and created the way we live. During the Industrial Revolution, the introduction of the steam engine and mechanized production methods completely changed the concept of labor and paved the way for large-scale production and urbanization. These changes were accompanied by social and cultural shifts, as well as economic structures, that permeated human life.
This raises the question of whether it is technology itself or societal needs that are behind this change. The former position is technological determinism, which argues that technology autonomously exerts a decisive influence on society (Institute for Social and Cultural Research, 2000). On the other hand, the latter is social constructionism, which argues that society shapes technological development. The debate between technological determinism and social constructionism is not just a theoretical discussion, but also has implications for the analysis of real-world social phenomena and policy making. For example, governments and companies seek to solve social problems through technological development, which is an important factor in determining the direction of technological progress.
When we consider the relationship between technology, social needs, and social change through various examples, we can see that technological determinism is a more convincing theory. In a society with a complex mix of technologies and endless human desire for them, it is difficult to think of technology and social needs in isolation. For example, the advent of the internet and smartphones has revolutionized information and communication, which has had a profound impact on how we communicate, access information, and live our daily lives.
Therefore, we can see the relationship more clearly when we go back to the beginning of a particular technological development and analyze the phenomenon. If we look at it from the same perspective as futurist Alvin Toffler, we can say that revolutions in agriculture, industry, and information technology sprouted from that period, and we are living in their wake. When I say revolution, I don’t mean incremental, but rather explosive, because a single discovery led to an explosion of change. The discovery that seeds sown in the ground by accident can grow into plants led to the abundance of food, and humans were able to settle down and live a settled life, no longer wandering. This settled life led to fundamental changes in social structure and economic activity, which formed the basis of civilization.
The same is true of the Industrial Revolution. A small improvement in the production of cotton textiles opened people’s eyes to production technology. The changes that one small discovery brought about, and the societal demands it created, were of a nature that humans cannot predict. New technologies gave birth to new desires, and desires gave birth to more advanced technologies. The invention of the automobile, for example, sparked a revolution in transportation, which led to major changes in the structure of cities and the way people lived. The popularization of the automobile had far-reaching effects, changing the way roads were laid, housing was developed, and commercial activity was centered.
These explosive changes started at a single point in time, and human desire intervened to accelerate the pace, but at the end of the day, new technology is at the center of it all. In the grand scheme of things, it is technology itself that has been the driving force behind technological advancement and the social changes it has brought about. Today’s digital revolution, in particular, is driving even more rapid and far-reaching changes across society, fundamentally redefining the way we live.
The reason why technological advancements autonomously affect society before social demands is that, after all, it is the technology itself, rather than the social demands for the technology and its consequences, that are at the beginning of the technology, and the new demands derived from the technology are not independent of the technology. Especially today, information technology has advanced so much that both the social changes that have occurred and the demands on technology have been predicated on it. Society cannot define technological development. People have only played a role in igniting it, often in ignorance. Technology, which has the power to transform entire societies, gives birth to lifestyles and desires that were never anticipated and paves the way for other technologies. Technology is more than just a tool, it’s a force that constantly interacts with society and drives it forward.
