Scenario: Digital World - The Lives Of The Brown Family Are

Scenario Digital Worldthe Lives Of the Brown Family Are Entirely Dep

Scenario: The lives of the Brown family are entirely dependent on technology. In their lives, it can be seen how we can evaluate society's structural adaption to digital growth, analyze how identities are developed in the digital world, evaluate social theories impacting the digital world, evaluate changes in society's organizations through additional theories, evaluate the evolution of language within online environments and through digital technology, and analyze the development of deviance in the digital world. Ross and Kristina met on a dating website. Ross is from Florida, and Kristina is from Connecticut. They met on average once a month in person and used video calls almost every day for six months before getting married.

Most of their friends also had profiles on dating websites and found their spouses in the same way. Online dating apps have brought about a revolution in how we choose our partners. Together, Ross and Kristina have two kids - Samantha, who is twelve years old, and eight-year-old Nate. The Brown Family exemplifies how the digital world has become part of almost every aspect of society. Increasingly, all members of the family are connected with technology.

Ross works from home, waking up to the phone alarm and quickly checking his Google calendar to see his meetings for the day. Kristina wakes up and grabs her phone to ask about the weather, which helps her decide whether to go to work or work from home. Her workplace has adapted after the COVID-19 pandemic, with some departments going fully remote, saving on office space costs. Kristina opts to work from home and also oversees the kids' online schooling. The children use e-books and online platforms for tests and assignments, and Kristina often helps them with homework.

For lunch, Kristina typically orders via Grubhub or UberEats, reflecting how the food industry has shifted online, impacting workers like waiters and waitresses. Ross and Kristina's family represent a rapidly growing digital economy that creates digital divides; they are part of the digital 'haves,' able to keep pace with technological changes, unlike the 'have-nots.' Since COVID-19, they have purchased nearly everything online, from groceries to clothing and bedding, often taking advantage of reward programs that require digital identities—usernames and passwords—that function as their cyber fingerprints.

When Kristina's computer malfunctioned, she recovered her numerous usernames and passwords with help from login assistance and customer service, authenticating her identity through personal details like her date of birth and social security number. This illustrates how the digital world constructs a complex digital persona for users, shaping their online identities. All family members have social media accounts; Kristina and Samantha are on Instagram, and Samantha also posts on TikTok to maintain her popularity, sometimes shifting away from her authentic identity toward the online persona shaped by followers' interests.

Her followers span the globe. Kristina has begun using emojis in her emails and texts to stay trendy. Samantha's friend Alex follows a celebrity using a fake ID and posts demeaning comments with slang, enabled by the anonymity provided by the digital environment—something impossible offline. This anonymity fosters behaviors such as cyberbullying and deindividuation, impacting social interactions and identity formation in online spaces.

Paper For Above instruction

The digital age has transformed society in profound ways, influencing individual identities, social structures, language, and behaviors. The Brown family's lifestyle exemplifies the pervasive integration of technology into daily life, illustrating both the opportunities and challenges presented by digital dependency. This essay explores how digital technology has reshaped societal adaptation, identity development, organizational change, language evolution, and deviance, using the Brown family as a case study.

Societal Structural Adaptation to Digital Growth

Society's adaptation to digital growth can be understood through the framework of technological determinism, which posits that technological development drives societal change. The Brown family's experience reflects this shift, as their daily routines are mediated by digital devices—phones, laptops, and online platforms. Businesses have also transformed, with many shifting to remote work models post-pandemic (Brynjolfsson et al., 2020). This transition has led to a restructuring of workplaces, emphasizing digital connectivity over physical proximity. Moreover, economic activities, such as online shopping and food delivery, indicate a reorganization of supply chains and service industries, often creating a divide between those who can adapt technologically ('digital haves') and those who cannot ('digital have-nots') (Van Dijk, 2020). Consequently, digital growth has redefined societal norms related to work, commerce, and communication.

Development of Identities in the Digital World

Identity development in the digital realm is complex and multifaceted. Kristina's online activities, including her social media profiles and online shopping behavior, demonstrate how digital identities are constructed through user-generated content and interaction (Goffman, 1959). Online personas often differ from offline selves, as evidenced by Samantha's TikTok presence, where her identity becomes intertwined with followers' expectations and content trends. The phenomenon of digital self-presentation can lead to a divergence from authentic identity, fostering 'code-switching' between online and offline behaviors (Turkle, 2011). Furthermore, digital anonymity, exemplified by Alex's fake account, enables behaviors like cyberbullying and trolling—manifestations of deviance and boundary-pushing in online environments (Suler, 2004). This underscores how digital platforms influence the evolution of personal and social identities, sometimes fostering superficiality or deceptive personas.

Social Theories Impacting the Digital World

Applying social theories such as symbolic interactionism helps us understand how interactions shape digital identities. Kristina's and Samantha's online interactions exemplify how communication in virtual environments creates new social realities (Mead, 1934). The concept of the 'looking-glass self' suggests that online feedback, likes, and comments influence self-perception and behavior (Cooley, 1902). Additionally, Giddens' theory of structuration indicates that digital practices both reproduce and transform social structures through recursive interactions (Giddens, 1984). Online communities and social networks foster new forms of social capital and influence, which can reinforce existing inequalities or promote social mobility. The phenomenon of 'echo chambers' and filter bubbles also demonstrate how algorithms shape societal polarization and deviance, impacting social cohesion.

Changes in Society's Organizations through Additional Theories

Organizational change driven by digital technologies can be analyzed via Contingency Theory and Transaction Cost Economics. The shift to remote work at Kristina's company exemplifies contingency theory, where organizations adapt structures based on environmental demands (Fiedler, 1964). Digital communication tools reduce transaction costs associated with traditional face-to-face interactions (Williamson, 1981). Such changes enhance flexibility and efficiency but may also create challenges related to management control and employee monitoring. The increased reliance on digital platforms for education, commerce, and social interaction signifies a transformation of organizational boundaries, roles, and hierarchies, often leading to decentralization and increased accessibility (Brynjolfsson & McAfee, 2014).

Evolution of Language in Digital Environments

Language evolution in online environments is characterized by the emergence of new lexicons, abbreviations, and symbols. Kristina's use of emojis and Samantha's engagement with internet slang reflect a linguistic adaptation to digital communication's immediacy and informality (Crystal, 2008). Texting and social media foster concise language, often employing acronyms like LOL, BRB, and hashtags to categorize content. This linguistic shift influences spoken language as well, with slang crossing into offline speech. The development of memes and GIFs further exemplifies visual language innovation, enriching communication (Shifman, 2014). Such evolution demonstrates language's dynamic nature, continuously shaped by technological affordances and social practices in online spaces.

Development of Deviance in the Digital World

Deviance in the digital realm encompasses behaviors that violate social norms, often facilitated by anonymity and lack of accountability. Alex's use of fake IDs and posting demeaning comments exemplify online deviance, which can include cyberbullying, trolling, and spreading misinformation (Whittaker & Schmidt, 2013). The concept of 'disinhibition' explains how digital anonymity lowers inhibitions, leading to behaviors unlikely offline (Suler, 2004). The rise of online scams, hacking, and fake news signifies the expanding scope of deviant acts. While digital platforms can facilitate positive social change, they also enable destructive behaviors that challenge traditional notions of conformity and morality. Addressing digital deviance requires understanding its social roots, technological affordances, and the development of effective moderation and regulation strategies.

Conclusion

The Brown family's engagement with digital technology exemplifies the transformative impact of the digital revolution on society. From structural adaptations in work and economy to shifts in identity, language, and deviance, digital integration influences every facet of social life. Understanding these dynamics through theoretical frameworks enables us to grasp the complexities and future trajectories of digital society, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations, digital literacy, and inclusive access to mitigate disparities and foster healthier online environments.

References

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• Brynjolfsson, E., Mitchell, T., & Wu, A. (2020). COVID-19 and the Shift to Remote Work. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/07/covid-19-and-the-shift-to-remote-work
• Cooley, C. H. (1902). Human Nature and the Social Order. Scribner’s.
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• Giddens, A. (1984). The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. University of California Press.
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