Answer :
Final answer:
Manuel Castells is recognized for his claim that digital technology has fundamentally transformed social networking, distinguishing his work from earlier sociologists like George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley by focusing on the network society and its implications in the modern world.
Explanation:
The question asks, "Which sociologist claimed that digital technology has transformed social networking: George Herbert Mead, Charles Horton Cooley, Manuel Castells, or Noliwe Rooks?" Manuel Castells is the sociologist who claimed that digital technology has transformed social networking. Unlike George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley, who were early influential figures in the development of sociological theories related to self and social interaction, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Manuel Castells' work is centered around the rise of the network society in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His analysis delves into how digital technology has enabled new forms of social networking that significantly impact economic, political, and cultural practices globally.
Castells’ extensive research and publications have provided a comprehensive understanding of how digital technologies have recreated social structures and relationships, positioning him as a key figure in the discussion of technology and society. His book, The Rise of the Network Society, provides an in-depth analysis of the social dynamics at play in the age of the internet, making a strong case for the transformative power of digital technology on social networking.
