Digital Media, New Socialities

Anthropology of Media ANTH 2301 Digital Media, New Socialities Anthropology has typically concentrated on issues of direct sociocultural contact throughout the last few decades. These themes include situations in which people participate in public ceremonies, religious rites, political activities, economic exchanges, and different types of community activity face-to-face. These pursuits have been essential to anthropological study because they have yielded a multitude of discoveries on how cultures develop, how societies operate, and how interpersonal relationships influence community life. Understanding the mechanics of cultural transmission, social norms, and collective identity development has been made possible by these in-person encounters. But as the Internet has grown and the digital age has arrived, anthropologists' focus has shifted more and more to the ways that digital technology is changing these essential facets of human connection. The emergence of digital media in the Internet age has given the study of culture and sociality new angles. These days, media anthropologists study how people establish and preserve relationships in virtual environments by connecting and exchanging information via keyboards and screens. The transition from in-person to virtual interactions has significant ramifications for comprehending modern-day social interactions. Digital platforms facilitate the formation of collective identities predicated on shared attributes including gender, colour, ethnicity, religion, and similar interests. These virtual groups frequently cross national borders, fostering a unique kind of localised and worldwide social cohesiveness. Niche interest groups, for example, may bring people together from all over the world, encouraging a sense of camaraderie and solidarity amongst them even when they are geographically apart. The innovative forms of social connection that digital technologies provide particularly intrigue anthropologists. Engaging in activities like blogging, meme creation, and hacking are whole new ways to express culture and interact with others. For instance, hacking is a cultural practice with its own set of social structures, ethics, and conventions in addition to being a technical talent. Similar to this, blogging has changed how people communicate publicly and privately by enabling people to share their ideas and experiences with a sizable audience. Memes are quick-moving cultural information units on digital networks that frequently reflect and influence political beliefs and society values. Traditional sociocultural practice domains are significantly altered by digital media as well. Shopping, which was formerly mostly done in person, has mostly shifted online, altering consumer behaviour and business dealings. E-commerce sites are convenient and offer a worldwide marketplace, but they also bring up concerns about data security, privacy, and the effect they have on small businesses. Digital technology has similarly changed financial transactions, providing new means of managing and exchanging money through services like mobile banking and cryptocurrency. These changes put the current regulatory structures to the test and call for new kinds of governance. Digital media has also revolutionised transportation. People now rely less on traditional taxi services and public transit while navigating metropolitan surroundings thanks to ride-sharing applications and GPS technology. Social fairness, environmental sustainability, and urban planning are all significantly impacted by these developments. With many religious groups now offering online services and virtual meetings, religious worship has also changed to fit the needs of the digital era. More accessibility and inclusion are made possible by this change, especially for people who are unable to attend in-person programmes because of obstacles like illness or distance. Digital media also has an impact on kin bonds, which are essential to social organisation. Social media, texting applications, and video conversations help families stay connected and enable real-time contact across great distances. While this continuous connectedness might improve family ties, it also brings up issues with digital literacy, privacy, and interaction quality. People have to manage a complicated network of online and offline interactions while juggling the needs and expectations of both since digital media is so prevalent in daily life. Cultural anthropologists use the term "sociality" to refer to the processes by which individuals create and preserve their interpersonal and collective relationships. The whole range of social contacts, from close friendships to extensive community involvement, is included in the concept of sociality. Anthropologists investigate the ways in which digital media affects sociality. They are interested in the ways that digital platforms promote social engagement, allow for the creation of new social networks, and change the social structures that are already in place. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, enable individuals to freely share their lives, thoughts, and experiences, resulting in an ongoing exchange of social information that influences people's attitudes and actions. Digital media may also serve as tools for empowerment, providing underrepresented groups with a forum and a voice to speak up for their rights and interests. Online campaigns and movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo show how digital media can be used to create awareness, rally support, and bring about social change. These movements organise, communicate, and spread their views globally by utilising the immediacy and interconnectedness of digital platforms. Anthropologists investigate these occurrences to comprehend how power dynamics and society values might be reflected in and influenced by digital media. The incorporation of digital media into daily life also brings up significant issues related to self-presentation and identity. Online personas and offline identities can diverge because people design their online personas to conform to particular social norms and expectations. The act of presenting oneself can cause conflicts between one's online and offline identities, which can affect how people view other people and themselves. In order to better understand how identities are constructed in the digital era and the consequences for both social and personal well-being, anthropologists investigate these processes. Additionally, there is increasing interest in the effects of digital media on mental health and wellbeing. Digital tiredness, anxiety, and social isolation are among the problems that can arise from being constantly connected and exposed to digital material. Anthropologists look at how people handle these issues, the methods they use to manage their online and offline lives, and the wider effects on society well-being. Additionally, they look into how digital media shapes societal norms surrounding mental health, such as the growing transparency and knowledge of mental health concerns on the internet. In summary, the transition from in-person interactions to digital communication signifies a substantial change in the field of cultural and social studies research. Anthropologists are focusing more and more on the ways that digital media affect cultural practices, identity formation, and social relationships. Anthropologists aim to comprehend how digital media transforms human connections, establishes novel modes of social interaction, and questions conventional ideas of community and belonging by investigating the intricate interactions between digital and offline realms. The knowledge gathered from anthropological study will be essential for negotiating the opportunities and difficulties presented by the rapidly developing digital technologies.