Technological Determinism in Eighth Grade
The film Eighth Grade watched in class clearly demonstrates what Baym identifies as anxieties produced by the digital age. Technological determinism and its effects can be seen to influence Kayla's life as she struggles to navigate both her social relationships as well as her online persona. According to Baym, she states that technologies have an "imprinting" effect that transfers essential qualities onto their users and their individual psyches (Baym 29). An example of this effect is the way in which Kayla was imprinted by her social media profiles as she became adamant and eager to practice her virtual confidence in real life. Furthermore, throughout the film, it is evident that keeping up social media profiles is a norm being practiced by Kayla as well as her classmates. It is important to these kids that they are posting regularly and interacting with each other online. The effects of digital technology can be argued to be imprinted on these characters as their virtual life is blurring with their physical in-real-life ones.
The film identifies technological determinism as a leading anxiety in the interactive digital age because it outlines how social lives are increasingly influenced by virtual personas. Baym uses a cartoon on page 39 of Personal Connections In the Digital Age that sums up virtual identities versus physical ones. A dog jokingly stating "How does Facebook know that I'm a dog?" can be related back to how Kayla poses as a confident person online but in reality is very shy and awkward. Kayla is using her virtual identity to make up for her physical one in hopes that her digital confidence will transfer over.
Therefore, technological determinism is marked by the way the line between virtual and physical are blurred. Technologies are shaping social institutions which is an anxiety for Kayla as she struggles to grapple with both growing up and maintaining her social identity.
Do you guys agree? Are you able to see how technology influences and creates anxieties about your own social life?
Work Cited
ReplyDeleteBaym, Nancy K. Personal Connections in the Digital Age. Polity, 2018.
Thank you!
DeleteHi Jinee! Great post; I really enjoyed your analysis of technological determinism and the placement that it was seen in Kayla’s actions in the film Eighth Grade. I had never thought of how you analyzed Bayms’s discussion of the cartoon; it became evident to me that this theory was also seen in Kayla’s actions of presenting herself as an” “alternative” to make up for what she believes that she lacks.
ReplyDeleteUpon reflecting on this idea, I now see that tech determinism plays a significant role in how individuals have the tendency to alter their behaviours online to conform to what they think are the preferential characters in society. Unfortunately, these alterations typically do not reflect the entire individual’s personality in life; I sort of relate to this; I often find that I only share polished images on social media. This is similar to how influencers heavily edit their photos to portray something that might not be 100% authentic.
Great post and explanation of this concept! Take care!
{Sorry re-posting as I wasn't logged in before :)}Hi Jinee! Great post; I really enjoyed your analysis of technological determinism and the placement that it was seen in Kayla’s actions in the film Eighth Grade. I had never thought of how you analyzed Bayms’s discussion of the cartoon; it became evident to me that this theory was also seen in Kayla’s actions of presenting herself as an” “alternative” to make up for what she believes that she lacks.
ReplyDeleteUpon reflecting on this idea, I now see that tech determinism plays a significant role in how individuals have the tendency to alter their behaviours online to conform to what they think are the preferential characters in society. Unfortunately, these alterations typically do not reflect the entire individual’s personality in life; I sort of relate to this; I often find that I only share polished images on social media. This is similar to how influencers heavily edit their photos to portray something that might not be 100% authentic.
Great post and explanation of this concept! Take care!
Great post!
ReplyDeletei really enjoyed reading your discussion of technological determinism and its relation to film we watched in class. I think your ideas help to show how technology not only influences but creates our anxiety's. In the film, Kayla creates her YouTube videos in hopes of them becoming popular. When she notices she isn't getting any views, this creates anxiety for her. This new creation of nerves is now influencing he behavior at school. For example, she is promising her crush Aiden certain things that she may not actually be comfortable with.
I also really enjoyed your explanation of what technological determinism is. Bringing up Bayms's use of the cartoon in the textbook really simplifies the idea and helped me better relate it to the film.
I really enjoyed reading your post! I agree with your ideas and the way in which technology influences and creates anxieties in social life. Your example of the way that Kayla became imprinted by her social media profile and when she became eager to practice her virtual confidence in real life is great.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question, I can definitely see the way technology creates anxieties in my own social life. For example, the idea of "fomo" (fear of missing out), is something I feel when I choose to skip a social event. Later seeing posts on Instagram makes me feel left out. Similarly to the way Kayla feels anxiety when she doesn't get views, I feel anxiety when I miss out on a social event. Both of these examples demonstrate the way that technology creates anxiety.
Hey Jinee! I enjoyed reading your perspective on technological determinism. I completely agree with the arguments that you make throughout this post specifically how you mentioned virtual identities versus physical ones. I would say that technology definitely influences and creates anxieties about my own social life.
ReplyDeleteA perfect example that I can think of is when covid restrictions were lifting earlier this summer, I would see on social media that individuals are going out to patios and what not which made me feel as if I was missing out on something and that I needed to go out and post about it which in reality I did not need to I wanted to and the only reason I wanted to is to post about it for other people to see. Therefore I feel like it definitely causes anxieties about my own social life.
Hi Jinee,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I enjoyed reading your perspective and ideas surrounding how technologies influence the social lives of those who use them. Personally, I think that if the students in the film eighth grade did not have social media or technology, they would have a much better sense of self and would not have so much anxiety surrounding their appearance. The way that Kayla tries to portray herself over social media is completely different then how she actually is in real life however the lines are blurred and she is unable to see that clearly.
This year with things going back to normal a bit Homecoming was a big thing where I felt like I was missing out and technology contributed to those anxieties. I did not do anything on Homecoming this year but all over social media I would see my friends and peers posting about how much fun they were having. This made me feel like I was doing something wrong and that I should also be posting HOCO pictures.