Question 2 Response


According to Patrice Flichy technological development is synergistic, socially contingent and malleable. Flichy articulates the non-linear cycle of innovation through stages of myth, utopia and ideology. Expounding upon Ricoeur’s work, Flichy illustrates how utopia and ideology exist as two poles of the technological imaginaire (8). Therefore, these discourses work in a dialectic as ideology is consistently trying “…to maintain social order and [utopia] trying to disrupt it” (Flichy 8). Mark Zuckerberg's notion of “connection” on Facebook manifests the relationship of all three discourses proposed by Flichy.

Zuckerberg explains that his initial vision for Facebook was never to fabricate a global empire but rather to establish a platform intended to connect people and provide everyone with the opportunity to have their voices heard. This echoes Flichy’s concept of utopia as Zuckerberg's preliminary concept of Facebook existed as a motivational schema marking the start of the process and “one of the most inventive phases but also the most unmethodical” (Flichy 9). Flichy would consider Zuckerberg's mandate of “connection” as a critical aspect of the socio-technical imaginaire which gave rise to experimentations that challenged the established technical order. 

As the euphoria of the concept fades, these experimentations are then legitimized and implemented as an ideological vision or imaginaire. As Flichy explains, “if they want to ensure that their experimentation gets beyond their worship…they need to construct a boundary - object, a compromise that can be used to associate multiple partners sufficiently loosely for everyone to benefit, yet sufficiently rigid for the device to function (Flichy 10-11). Utopia mutates into ideology for Zuckerberg through the manifestation of the Facebook platform and through its user engagement levels. During this stage, ideology operates to legitimize specific strategies and mobilize agents into their particular processes. As a free platform, Facebook relies on advertising revenue in order to deliver on its mandate of facilitating “connectivity” for its users. Therefore, users leverage their personal data as a means of currency which is exchanged for complete access to Facebook. 

 After analyzing Facebook according to Flichy’s myth, utopia, and ideology, I believe that his discourse is an effective means in neutralizing the critiques of Facebook. Zuckerberg’s statement successfully communicates his initial intentions for Facebook and reminds critics that the platform operates in such a way to satisfy both its users and advertisers. This alludes to the significance of compromise Flichy explains when striving to operate in the interests of various partners (10). However, a contradiction lies within the myth of connectivity as ideologies can operate to mask reality. Therefore, Zuckerberg’s concept of “connection” functions as a mask ideology in such that “aspects of reality are readily concealed in order to promote the new technique” (Flichy 11). Zuckerberg’s notion of “connection” extends beyond simply providing a platform for users to freely communicate but rather insidiously operates to “connect” individuals with relevant advertising. Nonetheless, Facebook has the right to generate favourable profits for providing a lucrative and ‘free’ communication tool. Therefore, I believe Facebook falls into the “Tech for Good” category. 

Flichy, P. (2007). Introduction. In P. Flichy, The internet Imaginaire. Cambridge: MIT Press.

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