Technology and revolution

Based on the quote from this chapter, ““revolution doesn’t happen when society adopts new technologies--it happens when society adopts new behaviors,” do you agree or disagree? Cite examples to support your position.


I agree with Shirky's statement that revolution doesn't happen until a society adopts a new behavior.  Technology is ever growing becoming faster, smaller, lighter and more user friendly such growth in technology drives individual desires to own a a piece of technology.  However this does not start any sort of revolution it is when a certain technology becomes part of the society and part of individual behaviors that a revolution is created.  When a certain form of technology essentially becomes life part of life itself is when revolution is created.  This revolution if from an individuals norms and past behaviors because some sort of technology allows for the process to be done much more easily.  In today's society it seems as though social networks such as facebook and twitter are changing people's behaviors.  Never before did individuals spend countless hours examining pictures, status' and wall posts, but in today's society it has become a norm a revolution has occurred changed the social aspect of our society.  Shirky makes a reference to e-mail in chapter 6, and how email changed society and its behaviors.  When email was developed there was no more need for postcards or hand written letters email was the new technology that allowed individuals to communicate with one another.  Furthermore email was far superior to sending anything by mail because it was faster and more inexpensive.  Therefore it is not the development of a new technology that begins a revolution but rather the adoption of new behaviors.