Acesso e cidadania: os usos da internet por jovens de diferentes classes sociais em Juiz de Fora

Abstract

The research deals with use of the Internet by young people from different social classes. Proposes an analysis of the forms of ownership of technology, specifically the Internet, by social classes in several different dimensions of their daily lives. The general objective is to verify that there are significant differences in the use of Internet by young people from different social classes and what factors determine the differences and / or the similarities. For this, we performed interviews with young people in classes A, C and D between 15 and 17 years in the period from 19 August to 01 October 2008, using semi-structured questionnaires. Use is made of dialectical historical materialism as a methodology to identify the organizational principles of society. Focus is the thinking of theorists like David Harvey and his analysis of the transition from Fordism to flexible regime of accumulation; Manuel Castells and his description of the information society; Norberto Bobbio and its interpretation of the concepts of state and citizenship; André Lemos and his critical review on cyber-sociality; and César Bolaños, with his understanding of political economy, globalization and communication. The final highlight that there are significant similarities in the uses of the Internet by young people from different social classes. The major differences are related to economic issues, such as greater use of videos of young Class A, which have access to broadband. However, among those watching videos, the subjects, the purpose and frequency are similar, regardless of social class.