Smartphone Society: The
Cultural Lag in Our Daily Lives
BLUE HOUSE
What will we learn in this topic?
01
02
03
Defining the Lag
Case Study 1
Case Study 2
04
5
The Development
Path
Q&A
01
Defining the Lag
Defining the Lag
● Material Culture: Physical things (like phones, apps,
and technology) change fast.
● Abstract Culture: Beliefs, manners, and values change
slowly.
●
Example from the book: Tractor replaced the plough —
tools changed, but people’s thinking took time to
adjust.
02
Case Study 1
Case Study 1
● A family is having dinner. Someone checks their
phone.
● Phone = fast material change.
● Lost family time = slow abstract change.
● Question: Which changes faster — your phone or
your manners?
03
Case Study 2
Case Study 2
● Internet made study easy — instant answers!
● But copying and cheating increased.
● Value of effort and honesty decreased.
● Lag between technology and values.
04
The Development
Path
The Development Path
True Development: Positive change that improves life.
Update our values, not just our gadgets.
Solutions:
●
Set “no-phone zones”
●
Try “digital detox” time
●
Remember: People > Notifications
05
Q&A
Q&A
Q1 :If smartphones change every year, but manners take decades to change, does that
mean cultural lag will always exist?
Ans: Yes, because technology keeps evolving faster than society’s habits, so the gap
keeps appearing.
Q2 : Which changes faster — a new app or our habit of checking notifications during
class?
Ans: The new app changes faster! Our habits are slower to adapt, showing cultural lag.
Q3 : If your family had a “no-phone dinner” rule, would that reduce cultural lag or
eliminate it?
Ans: It would reduce cultural lag because it aligns behavior (abstract culture) with
technology use, but it won’t completely eliminate it since technology keeps evolving.
Thanks!