Module 3 Activity

As technology has opened a new space for cyberculture, new forms of deviance and social control have appeared. Some individuals use technology as a means of deviating from more traditional cultural norms. For example, in the United States, employees in offices are encouraged to remain productive and efficient, letting their minds wander off-task as little as possible. In the past decade, most companies have installed high-speed internet access as a means of improving efficiency. However, employees often reappropriate the internet access to avoid work by using social networking sites. Such procrastination and corporate inefficiency stemming from internet access is called “cyberloafing.” In addition to new forms of deviance in traditional cultural mores, new forms of deviance have arisen within cyberculture. New technologies result in new standards of how to engage with them. The behaviors of deviant employees ultimately have a negative impact on the overall productivity of an organization. For this reason, all these behaviors are considered production deviance. More serious cases of deviant behavior involve property deviance. Property deviance refers to workers damaging an employer’s property without authorization. This type of deviance typically involves theft but may include sabotage, intentional errors in work, and the misuse of expense accounts. Just as new forms of deviance have come about as a result of technological advances, so too have new means of controlling deviant populations. In reaction to cyberloafing, companies have developed new technologies to monitor employees’ computers and restrict social networking during the workday. These methods include installing proxy servers to prevent programs from accessing resources like Internet Relay Chat, AOL Instant Messenger, or online gambling services. Personal Aggression and Political Deviancy and how they have evolved with the advent of cyber technologies. Cyber technology has created opportunities for workplace deviance because workers have cyber behaviors in the workplace that go against workplace rules, but not illegal such as personal aggression and political deviancy. Personal Aggression is hostile or negative behavior towards others. As it relates to cyber technologies, it is a broad enough definition to encompass everything from harassment and e-stalking to outright identity theft as means of harming another person. Political Deviancy is using your influence on harm others or the organization. Everyone has experienced or at least heard horror stories about bad bosses and hostile work environments. Everything from selectively informing people e.g. showing clear favoritism or disdain to ignoring grievances or conveniently shifting the blame and classic rumor mill gossip all fall under this category. How that works with cyber technologies? Instantaneous and secretive communication can be a nightmare with examples ranging from e-mails, to text and instant messengers giving influential people a means to move others without being directly to blame at first look.

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