Social change, factors, role of technology

Social change is the alteration in the structure, institutions, values, relationships and way of life of a society over time. Examples: the shift from joint to nuclear families, from agriculture to services, or the use of mobile banking.

Factors causing social change

1. Physical/geographical: earthquakes, floods, climate change and migration due to the environment (e.g. the 2072 BS earthquake led to stricter housing codes).
2. Demographic: population growth, ageing, migration, urbanisation, foreign employment.
3. Technological: new inventions and machines alter production and lifestyle.
4. Economic: industrialisation, income, trade, remittance, poverty.
5. Cultural: new ideas, religion, values, contact with other cultures.
6. Political and legal: change of government, republic, federalism, new laws, reservation policies.
7. Educational: literacy, awareness and scientific thinking.
8. Social movements and leadership: reformers, women's and rights movements.
9. War, conflict and disasters.

Role of technology in social change

• Economic structure: machines, power and ICT shift jobs from farming to industry and services and create new occupations.
• Family and social relations: mobile phones and the internet change communication and help nuclear and migrant families keep in touch; social media forms virtual communities.
• Education and knowledge: e-learning and open information raise awareness.
• Health and population: medicine reduces the death rate and increases life expectancy.
• Values and culture: media spread new fashions and ideas, and sometimes weaken traditions.
• Urbanisation and lifestyle: transport and construction technology create cities.
• Governance and rights: ICT improves transparency and participation.
• Cultural lag: technology (material culture) changes faster than values and laws (non-material culture), producing problems such as cyber crime and privacy issues.

Thus technology is both a major cause of social change and a tool for managing it.