Tecnocapitalismo, telefonia móvel e impactos socioculturais

Abstract

In the scenario of technological acceleration and mediatization, the mobile telephony is distinguished for its potential for dissemination and influence in the socio-cultural and economic relations. This dissertation intends to examine the relations between technocapitalism and mobile technology as well as the everyday socio-cultural implications. It is pointed out that the purpose is not to approach the user s specific side; therefore this research withdraws from the analyses of a reception plan, in order to evaluate the mobile technology effects in the contemporary. The formulated hypotheses aim to confirm, at first, that the current social practices are also influenced by the mobile technology market and, secondly, that the political-economic aspect of this market is subordinately connected to the neoliberal techno-capitalism, whereas the communication technologies increase the dynamism of two globalization sustentation s pillars: the money and the information. By adopting the deductive method of inquiry, since the notions of globalization, techno-capitalism and neo-liberalism, are then disclosed the political-economic picture of the cellular telephony and its daily consequences. Due to scarcity in Portuguese of reference sources, the foreign and up-to-date bibliographical research is also used in order to understand the mobile telephony history and its influence on socio-economic life. The research s result points are that the cell phone asserts itself through the constant contact culture, which is produced by the dominant marketing gear. From the moment the technological rationality of the mobile telephony is led by economic power, it emphasizes the brand valuation of merchandises and companies, so as to prioritize the consumerism speech of the connectivity at any time and place. Therefore, it is confirmed a new bios where the ethics is subordinated to the market and the moral is equivalent to the consumption. The resulting techno-interactions modify practices in the realms of work, family, leisure and sociability and therefore change the everyday individual routine. It is concluded that the constant and ubiquitous contact is not a fortuitous act of the techno-capitalism, but one fundamental piece to dissemination of the hegemonic economic ideals, because it conforms and impacts the socio-cultural environment. At the same time, it is recognized that certain uses of the mobile phone can favor actions and dynamics that contribute to the understanding and possible transformation of the society. At last, this work intends to cooperate with the critical quarrels regarding to the new technologies and to the effective economic system, so it is believed not only in the possibility of overcoming the money and the objects deification, but also in the challenge of constructing one another trajectory, through the new uses and applications of information and communication technologies.