This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LIEVROUW, L. A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

New Media and the `Pluralization of Life-Worlds'

A Role for Information in Social Differentiation

University of California, Los Angeles

This article asks whether, and in what ways, new media technologies contribute to variations in information resources and communication relations from place to place that may encourage social integration or differentiation. Current perspectives on differentiation theory are briefly discussed, and a model is presented which suggests how the generation, circulation and use of information in society create different social milieux or information environments. Recent studies of new media use are used to illustrate how ICTs might contribute to social differentiation.

Key Words: heterotopic communication • ICTs and sociality • information environment • information seeking • neofunctionalism • network society • social change • social differentiation • social movements

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Rasanen The aftermath of the ICT revolution? Media and communication technology preferences in Finland in 1999 and 2004 New Media Society, April 1, 2008; 10(2): 225 - 245. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Hodkinson Interactive online journals and individualization New Media Society, August 1, 2007; 9(4): 625 - 650. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Wilson, A. Hamzah, and U. Khattab The 'Cultural Technology of Clicking' in the Hypertext Era: Electronic Journalism Reception in Malaysia New Media Society, December 1, 2003; 5(4): 523 - 545. [Abstract] [PDF]