Every week in this column, we try to highlight many current developments regarding the misuse of technology. Sometimes, we criticize social networks, users, or the malicious use of these platforms, while other times, we voice concerns about the future. Fundamentally, all these criticisms stem from the process called “Digital Culture,” which is defined as “the cultural transformation process shaped by the impact of digital technologies and the Internet on social, cultural, and individual life.”
With the rapid spread of digitalization, digital culture encompasses not only technology but also people’s interactions with it and the societal impacts of these interactions. Therefore, as a phenomenon that significantly influences and even transforms individuals’ daily lives, social relationships, communication methods, and worldviews, it holds great importance today.
The concept of digital culture is crucial for understanding not only how people communicate, create, share, and consume information through digital tools and platforms but also how digital technologies are transforming art, entertainment, education, and business.
Due to its rapid evolution and profound effects on societal structures, digital culture attracts serious criticism, as mentioned earlier. In a world where digitalization has become an inseparable part of modern life, covering every aspect of it, it is essential to go beyond seeing technology merely as a tool and to deeply analyze how it shapes society and culture.
As discussed extensively in previous weeks, the process of digitalization, which can lead to individuals becoming isolated or engaging in superficial social interactions, is now prominently associated with threats like privacy violations, information pollution, and misinformation. Other criticisms of digital culture include issues like data security, addiction, social isolation, the digital divide, hedonic consumption, cultural degradation, dissatisfaction, cyberbullying, and digital waste.
Let us continue exploring these concepts closely in the weeks to come…