Open AccessDigital literacy: A sociological analysis
Author(s) -
Kerri Rinaldi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of literacy, culture, and language education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2642-4002
DOI - 10.14434/ijlcle.v3i0.26909
Subject(s) - literacy , textuality , socioeconomic status , sociology , digital literacy , critical literacy , functional illiteracy , social science , mathematics education , psychology , pedagogy , political science , linguistics , population , philosophy , demography , law
This paper analyzes how sociological factors, access to literacy, and self‐sponsored digital literacy are interrelated. By reviewing New Literacy Studies literature and statistical analyses of digital communication usage, this paper gives a sociologicalreading to self‐sponsored digital literacy. Literacy as a whole is an important facet to modern society, but we must acknowledge the rise of digital textuality as a new form of literacy and recognize the profound relationship that exists between socioeconomic factors and writing. This paper demonstrates that digitally produced writing is textually valid, steeped in social capital, and is extraordinarily accessible regardless of social factors, especially socioeconomic status. Based on these conclusions, implications for pedagogical instruction are also explored.