Reimagining Sociality in the Digital Age: Transcending the Interaction/Society Dichotomy

Hugo Neri and Veridiana Cordeiro

Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2025, vol. 42, issue 2, 488-502

Abstract: This paper argues that digital technologies have not merely transformed social life but have made visible society's fundamental nature as operating through distinct but interconnected systems of communication. The long‐standing interaction/society dichotomy in sociological theory has constrained our understanding of social phenomena, as revealed by digital platforms, algorithmic systems and networked communications. Building on Luhmann's systems theory while engaging with contemporary digital sociology, we develop a theoretical synthesis that reconceptualizes how society operates through autonomous but structurally coupled systems of communication. This framework explains phenomena that resist traditional sociological analysis, from content moderation controversies to algorithmic bias, by showing how different systems process the same events according to distinct operational criteria while remaining interconnected. By moving beyond attempts to bridge micro/macro divisions or reconcile structure/agency dualities, we offer a more fundamental understanding of how society operates in both digital and non‐digital contexts, positioning sociology as part of the scientific system developing productive resonances with other social systems.

Date: 2025
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