Reflection – Week 1

In the first class, we mainly discussed "Technological Determinism" and "SCOT". Previously, I had a relatively positive attitude towards digital media, believing that mobile phones, social platforms, and AI had the power to change our lives. However, the content of the class made me realize that these seemingly natural changes are actually all influenced by social structures, capital logic, user needs, and cultural backgrounds. What particularly impressed me was the statement that "technology does not merely influence us, but rather shapes society in tandem with it." This completely overturned my previous notion of technology as a neutral tool. For instance, when it comes to the use of generative AI, we often overlook who designed it, in what context it is used, who its needs satisfy, and who's voice it excludes. This made me start to reflect on my daily habits of using digital tools. For instance, I would naturally rely on search engines to find answers, but perhaps the search results already contain the value order and ideology that the designers intended to convey. In future learning, I hope to be more sensitive and remain vigilant about technology. I need to learn to see the social structure behind the technology, and also pay more attention to my own experiences, not allowing technology to affect my attention, emotions, expression style and sense of identity.