Weaving the Home Web: A Canadian Case Study of Internet Domestication by By Tracy Lee Musing Kennedy A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Sociology University of Toronto © Copyright by Tracy L. M. Kennedy 2011 Abstract Weaving the Home Web: A Canadian Case Study of Internet Domestication Tracy Lee Musing Kennedy Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Sociology University of Toronto 2011 The internet has increasingly become a part of our daily practices, and previous research has pointed to the numerous different ways individuals and groups use and integrate the internet into their lives. Yet, despite the pervasiveness of the internet within the home, few have investigated internet domestication. To grasp the process of internet domestication, my research uses a Social Shaping of Technology approach to investigate how internet domestication develops as a set of contextual practices within households of East York, Ontario. My research is part of the Connected Lives Project that took place in East York, Ontario between 2004 and 2005. Using a combination of survey data, semi-structured interviews and digital photos, I offer a novel combination of methods not implemented in previous research of the household internet that provides a rich and descriptive illustration of household internet practices. This dissertation research is the first case study of the household internet that offers an in-depth portrayal and interpretation of its domestication. It is an empirical demonstration of the complicated patterns through which the internet is domesticated. My research builds upon previous quantitative and qualitative internet research, and contributes to the clear epistemological gap in what we know about internet ii domestication as a dynamic process. How does the domestication of the internet develop as a set of contextual practices? My investigation draws attention to the kinds of things that shape the everyday - paid work, immigrant status, household structure, and gender roles. Each of these act as threads - different practices - that weave together to shape how the internet is used and integrated as a domestic technology into today's households and families. I characterize the social worlds shaping internet domestication, and discuss how households and families actively shape internet domestication through examining internet communication and information seeking patterns, and address concerns that family is in decline. My research provides new and different ways of thinking about family, family time, and our relationship with the household internet by discussing the time families spend together online, and how family's household spaces are evolving in response to the ubiquitous internet. iii Dedication ~ For Eva Weinhandl & Michele O‘Connell ~ Your light leads me, Your strength supports me, Your love warms me. iv Acknowledgements This has been such a long and interesting journey to say the least, and it all started with a single introductory sociology course at Brock University in 1995 – a course that changed my career path entirely in my adult life. A huge thank you to Professor Rebecca Raby for capturing my interest in our social world, and to the numerous professors at Brock for nurturing it. A special thank you to Professor Ann Duffy who mentored me at Brock and provided warm and guiding academic inspiration. A thank you to Professor Nancy Mandell at York University for her keen perception and relentless drive for perfection. A thank you to Keith Hampton and Dima Dimatrova who offered friendship and support before I even arrived at the University of Toronto Sociology Department. Their presence helped me feel less alone and part of an academic family, and I appreciate that our friendship has continued over the years. A huge thank you to (now retired) Graduate Administrator Jeannette Wright who helped me balance family, work and school. Whenever I was in a bind (and I often was), Jeannette was always there to assist me and keep me together. What an incredible opportunity it was to be a part of the Connected Lives Project. To conduct such a large research project takes smarts, perseverance and a good sense of humour, and I was lucky to be part of a team that was all of that and more; a thank you to Bernie Hogan, Jeffrey Boase, Kristen Berg, Juan Antonio Carrasco, Rochelle Cote, Jennifer Kayahara, and Inna Romanovska. This was a learning experience that most people can only dream of. A thank you to Phuoc Tran, Julie Amoroso and Natalie Zinko for their assistance throughout the project, and the numerous undergraduates who helped us with our sometimes mundane tasks. A special thank you to Professor Barry Wellman who spearheaded the v project and offered continual leadership, support and guidance. Although we are all rather far-flung now, we are still connected. There are so many individuals outside of academia who have kept in touch and inquired about my dissertation progress, offering support and high-fives to keep plugging along, even when they weren‟t always totally sure what I was talking about. A thank you to them for this. My dissertation committee has been so incredibly patient and helpful throughout this process. A thank you to Professor Barry Wellman, Professor Sandy Welsh and Professor Shyon Baumann who were always so positive and supportive in our meetings together. They allowed me to grow as an academic, offering advice and sensibility along the way when I strayed. I cannot stress enough how wonderful it was to work with each of you. Thank you to Professor Zaheer Baber and Professor Melissa Milkie for their helpful commentary and suggestions. I would also like to thank Professor Janet Salaff who hired me as a research assistant when I arrived at the University, sharing her keen qualitative skills and knowledge of our social world. Sadly, Professor Salaff passed away November 10th, 2010. Professor Salaff provided continual support of my dissertation research and valuable suggestions for my investigation and analysis. I cherish the time we spent together, and I miss her exuberance and energy. Although I have already mentioned him twice, I have to again thank my dissertation supervisor Professor Barry Wellman: the invaluable insight, support and guidance over the years, and the incredible academic opportunities you gave to me, I thank you. I learned so much during my time at NetLab and flourished. You are truly a mentor. vi A special thank you to my dearest friend Kristen Berg. Who knew how this would all end up when we sat in Prof. Wellman‟s technology and sociology course eons ago? We spent countless hours on telephone over the years kvetching about graduate school perils and life‟s adventures. I treasure the warmth and security of our sisterhood, and I thank you for our friendship. I am also lucky to have people that have stood by me and encouraged me throughout the years. A thank you to David Reaker who always seemed to understand when I had to be glued to the computer to work, and always asked about my daily progress. I really appreciate your support, and the coffee, snacks and dinner you often brought me when I wouldn‟t pull myself away. To my son, Tyler Kennedy Collins, I thank you for your comedic relief over the years: the fun demotivational notes and images left on my computer desk1, and the offhanded remarks about my dissertation kept the mood light when things were too serious. Most of all, I thank you for your understanding when I spent countless hours at my desk, and sometimes even forgot to make dinner (or burned it). I imagine it was sometimes difficult having a parent so academically focused, but hopefully the trade-off was worth it, and I thank you for your patience. This dissertation is partially our story, how you and I tamed the beast together. To my mother, Michele O‟Connell, you are my rock. You were unyielding in your drive to convince me that what I was doing was something extraordinary, and that I could in fact do it (and anything else I set my mind to do). Whenever I was at a low, you were always there to pull me up. I cannot thank you enough for all of your encouragement and support over the years. 1 An example of one of my son‟s demotivational note - “Caution: this thesis is very boring”. vii A Dissertation Haiku2 Domestication - Net use is socially shaped, Context gives meaning. 2 “The content of a haiku is typically, but not always, focused on what the writer witnesses in everyday life that is more outstanding or important than normal, something deemed worth reaching for in written expression.” http://bit.ly/jHy7oQ Inspired by the Blog: http://dissertationhaiku.wordpress.com/ . viii Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction 1 Introduction 1 Deterministic Theories of Technology 2 Technological Determinism 3 Social Theories of Technology 3 Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) 3 Social Shaping of Technology (SST) 4 The Domestication of Household Media & Technologies 5 The Domestication Model 6 The Domestication Model & the Household Internet 8 Gender & the Domestication Model 9 The Social Shaping of Internet Domestication 11 Demographic Differences in Household Internet Use & Integration 14 Race & Ethnicity 14 Immigrant Status 15 Gender 16 Household Composition and Internet Use & Integration 18 Changes in Households & Families 20 Implications of Internet Use & Integration on Families 22 Blurring Boundaries between Public & Private 22 Reconfiguring Households & Families 25 Location of the Home Internet 25 Social Concerns