Soapbox Post

Several weeks ago, a colleague and I discussed what constitutes technological determinism and why it is problematic.  I argued that, colloquially, technologically deterministic arguments are often implicit and subtly erase human agency from social interactions with technology.  Later that evening, I switched on PBS’s Newshour to hear just such an argument.  Newshour’s Ray Suarez hosted Shane Windmeyer, founder of Campus Pride, and William Saletan, correspondent from Slate, to discuss the story of the Rutgers University student, Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after his roommate allegedly filmed his sexual encounters with another man, advertised them on his twitter feed, and streamed them on the Internet for public viewing. 

Saletan argued that it is in our human nature to bully others and that easy-to-use technology presents irresistible temptations that exploit our human nature.  He states:

“Well, I'm really struck by the convergence of an old weakness of our nature, which is to exploit -- you know, students take advantage of each other. They often humiliate each other…

But that is now magnified by the technology and the ability of a student to get easy access to someone in a position of, you know, being naked or in an awkward position, and -- and to have that image broadcast more easily from one computer to another…

I think what is scary to me about this case is how easy it was, and how, if you look at the case, how the young man, Mr. Ravi, was drawn into it, where he first goes to another room, and the Webcam is not turned toward his roommate. But then he realizes that he can do this, and then, gradually, the mischief starts to build.

It is the temptation that the technology poses that draws him in. And I think he didn't understand how serious what he was doing was. And a lot of students don't. And that is what we need to focus on, spreading the message about what is acceptable and what is not.”

I find several aspects of this line of thought troubling.  First is the tired assertion that certain human behavior is innate, and perhaps irresistible, due to our human nature.  Arguments about a supposed innate human nature are also used to justify homophobia and bigotry— i.e., that homosexuality and gender fluidity are against our human nature and are therefore aberrant and immoral.  Second, is the assertion that technology enables this evil human nature to manifest, in the suggestion that the webcam’s power and ease of use caused the alleged act.  Related is the assertion that the accused did not understand that his action was significant or wrong.  In this conception, humans are stripped of agency in their use of technology in a way that suggests that it is almost beyond us to grasp right from wrong because the technology triggers and exploits our fundamentally evil natures.  Apparently, we’ve failed to master both ourselves and our technology.  

Saletan and others argue that this case is just one example in a modern rash of technological offenses against privacy.  In response, Rep. Linda Sanchez has reintroduced a bill to make cyberbullying a federal crime.  I agree that a focus on privacy rights in the digital age is extremely important, but by stripping human agency from the use of technology, we depoliticize important issues.  My argument does not include a sexy word like “cyberbullying;” in fact it may sound anachronistic.  But I believe the moral issues in this case are not particularly novel; we should be talking to our kids about sensitivity in how they treat other human beings and about bigotry and homophobia.  I think we should address the lack of counseling and other resources available for young people and the stigma involved with using them.  Instead of blaming the technology, Shane Windmeyer of Campus Pride pointed to systemic issues of heterosexual privilege and discrimination against GLBT youth on college campuses.

Several days later, Saletan blogged on the same story and suggested that Clementi made the mistake of failing to understand that he was not alone in his dorm room—that the Big Brother-like webcam was ever present.  Saletan argues that we all make this mistake of thinking we are alone, intimating that we operate with a naïve illusion of privacy.  I would argue that, in this case, feeling alone is a mistake for a different reason.  Through the online Make It Better Project, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) youth are using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the like to broadcast this message: “You’re not alone; you’re on the Internet right now watching this video.”  ‘You have a community of LGBT people and allies supporting you and life doesn’t have to be this hard.  You have the power to change your life for the better and a right to happiness now—not four years in the future.’  These heroic young people are taking control of both themselves and their technology, using these same digital technologies that some see as insidious invaders of our privacy to construct a community based upon love and support.  Presuming we don’t have the agency for self-improvement and that we do not have control over technology—this is where we are mistaken.