Kuvutoli A Sumi
6th Semester, Sociology St. John College, Dimapur
In modern times, mobile phones had become an essential part of our daily life. They have integrated so much into our being that the device is treated as if it is a part of our organ system. Most of our mornings start with our eyes on the screen and end the same way. This complete dependence on a technological device has made our life isolated. This necessary evil has integrated so deeply into our nervous system that it is impossible to think of a day without a mobile phone in our hands.
Manuel Castells defines a network society as 'a society whose social structure is made up of networks powered by microelectronics-based information and communication technologies. Castells observes that new technologies have led to disconnectedness among the members. People in contemporary society experience a sense of autonomy. But this autonomy comes with a cost. My grandparents lived without mobile phones, and their society was well integrated. Social relationships were built around community and power structures were never regulated through a series of networks. Individuals had very limited agency of its own; as such community life thrived. Mobile phones, however, have changed the trajectory of society.
Society, which has always found its roots in social interaction, has been replaced by a series of networks. We are now all caged within this network structure, confined to a little box of disconnectedness.
Surviving without mobile phones is possible but challenging at the same time. People have become dependent on these devices for communication and daily activities despite many disadvantages.
The challenge that lies ahead is not to abandon technology but to understand how networks shape our live and to ensure that we remain connected to each other, not just virtually.
