The main entity in this text is the “Sociology of the Internet[1].” In simple terms, this refers to the study of how the development and usage of the internet has influenced societal structures and human behavior. This field of study considers how the internet impacts various aspects of society, from economic inequality and political participation to social interactions and cultural diversity. It also looks at the implications of internet-related technological advancements, such as the Internet of Things. The Sociology of the Internet is concerned with both the positive and negative effects of the internet, such as the creation of virtual communities and the potential for increased social isolation. This area of study is vital in today’s internet-dependent world, as it helps us understand the broader implications of our online activities.
Les sociology of the Internet (or the social psychology of the internet) involves the application of sociological or social psychological theory and method to the Internet as a source of information and communication. The overlapping field of digital sociology focuses on understanding the use of médias numériques as part of everyday life, and how these various technologies contribute to patterns of human behavior, social relationships, and concepts of the self. Sociologists are concerned with the social implications of the technology; new les réseaux sociaux, communautés virtuelles and ways of interaction that have arisen, as well as issues related to cyber crime.
The Internet—the newest in a series of major information breakthroughs—is of interest for sociologists in various ways: as a tool for research, for example, in using en ligne questionnaires instead of paper ones, as a discussion platform, and as a research topic. The sociology of the Internet in the stricter sense concerns the analysis of online communities (e.g. as found in newsgroups), communautés virtuelles et virtual worlds, organizational change catalyzed through new media such as the Internet, and social change at-large in the transformation from industriel à informational society (or to information society). Online communities can be studied statistically through network analysis and at the same time interpreted qualitatively, such as through virtual ethnography. Social change can be studied through statistical demographics or through the interpretation of changing messages and symbols in online études des médias.