Technology and Aging Populationin Nnetwork Society: Towards Virtually-Based Communities?

Abstract

Modern social transformations are very strongly related to rapid technological advance which has an impact on the dominance of technological rules in social life. Transformations of social bonds, creation of new forms of contacts, or Internet mediated social patterns are common phenomena in the network society. Technological competences are playing an increasingly prominent role in man’s technologized social environment. Theoretical search for the digitally excluded from the market mainstream rooted in the Internet communication culture often focuses on raising questions about age as an important determinant which defines the position and market value of modern man. The dominance of technological rules and the presence of a socially produced nature (Anthony Giddens) impact the growing expectations towards the participants of the network society concerning their ability to adjust to the digital social standards and the degree of participation in the new communication space.