Theories for the Digital Society

This paper presentation session proposes to discuss how sociological theories can contribute to a better understanding of the digital transformation of broader societal structures. Such transformations are at times referred to the increased use of algorithms and data, be it for organization, intimacy, labour, and many other societal domains. Hence, the session aims for a theoretical engagement with these transformations, which at times invoke notions of interacting with artificial partners, the parasocial and a new political attachment economy. The question then is how sociology as a discipline and participant of contemporary society can and needs to move forward to better account for these transformations and their implications. This inquiry can involve a wide variety of approaches, ranging from the reinterpretation of sociological classics to the development of completely new theories.