Sociology I · 10 marks · 150 words

Evaluate the impact of social media on primary and secondary group dynamics in modern society.

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2025

Science, Technology and Social ChangeFamily, Household and MarriageTheories and Agents of Social Change

Syllabus: Social Change in Modern Society: (a) Sociological theories of social change. (b) Development and dependency. (c) Agents of social change. (d) Education and social change. (e) Science, technology and social change.

How toppers approached it

From 2 of the 3 answers · about 370 words · 50% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A definition1 of 2
  • No separate opening1 of 2

Body

  • Points and prose1 of 2
  • Points1 of 2

Close

  • A summary2 of 2

The toppers’ answers

Ishan BhatnagarAIR 5 · CSE 2025 · 107 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Jean Baudrillard argue that social media constitute "Hyperreality" whereby people are unable to distinguish between the real and virtual.

Body · points and prose

Impact on Primary group dynamics

  1. Deriving integration through family whatsapp groups allowing for greater communication.

  2. Expanding definition of kinship in terms of cross-border kins, affective kin etc.

  3. Increased surveillance and control of women by new tools of tracking and surveillance.

4> Fragmentation of attention span, individuation, leading to declining quality of relation (Bauman)

Diagram
Impact on secondary group dynamics -> mutual alienation at workplace due to work from home -> Relative deprivation owing to curation and performativity on social media

-> Re-establishment of peer circles. eg alumni groups, virtual meets etc.

Close · a summary

Hence, social media lies at the tension of integration and fragmentation, enhancing communication pathways but potentially reducing quality of engagement.

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