We often think that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, in general, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) reinforce the social trend towards dehumanization and disenchantment caused by the capitalist system in the 21st century. However, a survey by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) provides quantitative information related to this trend, linked to the perception of risks that the population associates with the development of Science and Technology, AI, digitalization, and ICT in general. In this article, we analyze this survey with the aim of understanding whether the fear that ICT-AI generates in certain sectors of society, especially experts, scientists, and managers, corresponds with the social perception of science and technology. To do this, we first conduct a descriptive approach. Correlational analysis has been used to establish a synthesis of the different categories. In a third phase, the correlational position of the dependent variables is determined. The CIS survey allows for a deeper understanding of the association of different explanatory variables of the reactions and perceptions caused by ICT: the level of education, social class, and religiosity. Four levels of discussion are proposed: interest in science and technology, actions related to science and technology, the utility of science, and the dangers and risks to society.
There is still an unresolved debate about the relationship between technology and inequality. This article addresses digital inequality as a political problem rather than a technical one. Aiming to understand digital inequalities in the territories of La Araucanía, Chile, it was considered pertinent to contribute theoretical value from the perspective of sociotechnical controversies and the Social Construction of Technology. A theoretical model comprising four axes is proposed: technological infrastructure, connectivity policies and regulations, territorial approach and geographic digital divide, and the subjective experience of people on the network. The methodology used was controversy mapping based on the definition of two case studies. The main results highlight that the proposed model allowed “opening the black box” of digital inequality, establishing the different positions of the actors, associations, and disputes. They allow observing its main facets and deepening a societal problem, referring to the market model that governs connectivity in Chile.
This study analyzes mental health and its relationship with digital media use among the adolescent population in contexts with specific challenges, such as that experienced on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands) following the pandemic and a volcanic eruption. Results corroborate that Compulsive Internet Use (CIUS) is significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety, emotional distress, sleep problems, and lower self-esteem, also confirming a significantly higher prevalence in females across all of them. Although CIUS prevalence does not differ between zones, a moderating effect trending towards significance on anxiety is observed: with higher CIUS risk, adolescents in the affected zone report lower anxiety levels. Although moderation was not significant for other indicators, the affected zone generally presents lower emotional distress in females and males, as well as higher self-esteem and fewer sleep difficulties in females. These findings suggest that specific post-disaster contextual factors might have fostered better emotional management among adolescents in the affected zone, partially mitigating the impact that problematic digital media use has on mental health. The need for preventive interventions to alleviate the impact of digital media on mental health from a gender perspective, contextualized to geographical particularities, is emphasized.
In view of the introduction of ICT in the health field, the aim is to collect the vision of those who design and implement public eHealth policies to offer an overview of their state in the pre-pandemic context. To achieve this, the Delphi method was used, interviewing 20 experts from 15 CC. AA (2019). The services valued as most relevant are: electronic prescription, appointment request and digital image registration. Every participant values as high their future importance. In summary, the incorporation of ICT is vital and progress has been made in some services. Others still require a strong boost, them being relevant for vulnerable groups.
The social implications of biotechnological change in rural communities are an underexplored topic in sociology. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature in Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest between 1975 and 2020. The study consisted of two parts. The first identified the state of the art, limited to 52 scientific articles, of which 10 were selected for further study. The second part answers questions about current trends. The findings indicate that research trends are: political economy, social media discourse, social capital networks, patents, and the "neoliberal diet."
