A REVIEW OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES CONCERNING THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (DISSEMINATION, INNOVATION AND POSSESSION)

Abstract

The advent of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in recent decades has not only brought about remarkable developments in communities, but has also paved the way for a myriad of theoretical studies and experimental research in the relevant field. The present article seeks to examine the interaction between technology and society, therefore, it first analyzes two mainstreams governing information and communication technologies; one introduces technology as the cause of social change, and the other deems social factors and structures as the reason behind these developments. It, then, examines theories concerning the sociology of the utilization of information and communication technologies. The focus is particularly on the three renowned approaches of innovation, dissemination and possession. Furthermore, the article builds on the research carried out on the sociology of information and communication technologies in France and North America and discusses the role and status of these technologies’ users. The study of different schools of thoughts on information and communication technologies indicates that neither of these two mainstreams is able to examine the performance of a technology on its own. Therefore, an inquiry into the literature of the field shows an emerging school of thought which indicates a change in attitudes toward the users of information and communication technologies as well as the emergence of active users rather than passive ones.