Strengths and Weakness of McLuhan’s Ideas
Technological determinism is a theory that communicates the link between technology and cultural values. This theory considers the idea that society is reflective of technology. As stated in an article for Communication Theory, “Marshall McLuhan made a famous statement that “the medium is the message.” This means that the medium used to communicate influences the mind of the receiver. The introduction of newsprint, television and the internet have all shown how technological advances have an impact on the society in which we live in” (Nurasan,2016).
To discuss the negatives before the positives, three points regarding McLuhan’s ideas, include those who argue that technological determinism is an oversimplification of sociological phenomena, the idea that other factors, aside from media, equally influence individuals, and finally the belief that the digital divide and inequalities in access to education do not allow for society as a whole to mimic behaviors seen through said channels.
Now, to focus on the pros of this theory, I would like to touch base on the fact that technology is innovative and a positive factor in our world in terms of medicine and innovation. The use of technology in our day-to-day lives and the mirroring of the lessons it teaches us to learn and grow consistently. Next, technological determinism is an autonomous force that changes society. Society can adapt and mold quickly and efficiently, for this reason, this theory allows for constructive change. Finally, this theory promotes the introduction of newer tools and methods that simplify our day-to-day lives.
To conclude, as stated in our weekly reading, “the intent behind these theoretical perspectives is to help empower those whose world-views and ideological perspectives have not found equality in social contexts” (Introduction to Communication).
References:
Venditti, P. (n.d.). Introduction to Communication. Lumen.
Nurasan, J. (2018, April 23). Technological Determinism. Communication Theory.
