A Web of Our Own Making: The Nature of Digital Formation

The most powerful achievement of digital technology is our unthinking surrender to its effects, which reshape our lives outside our notice. Barba-Kay argues that digital technology is a natural technology that reconfigures knowledge, culture, politics, aesthetics, and theology, primarily taking place within each of us.

Format: Hardback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The internet has become an integral part of our lives, and it is difficult to imagine a world without it. However, as we indulge in the latest doom-mongering about the evils of social media and the deterioration of our attention spans, we may be missing the bigger picture. Our unthinking surrender to the effects of the internet, to the ways it recasts our aims and desires, is itself digital technology's most powerful achievement.

A new book by Barba-Kay, "A Web of Our Own Making," examines how online practices are reshaping our lives outside our notice. Barba-Kay argues that digital technology is a natural technology, so intuitive that it conceals the extent to which it transforms our attention. He shows how and why this technology is reconfiguring knowledge, culture, politics, aesthetics, and theology.

The digital revolution is primarily taking place not in Silicon Valley but within each of us. We are connected to the internet 24/7, and our online habits and behaviors are shaping our lives in ways we may not be aware of. From the way we consume information to the way we communicate with others, the internet has become a powerful tool for change and transformation.

However, with this power comes responsibility. We need to be aware of the ways in which the internet is shaping us and take steps to mitigate its negative effects. This may involve taking breaks from social media, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in offline activities that promote creativity and social connection.

In conclusion, the internet has transformed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. While it is important to be aware of the negative effects of the internet, we should also recognize its potential for positive change and transformation. By being mindful of our online habits and behaviors, we can harness the power of the internet to create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

Weight: 604g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009324793