In his book, The Rise of the Network Society (1996), Castells has proposed that we are witnessing the emergence of an information society and a network society. This means that societies are now dependent on the functions of computer networks. Although such computer uses can benefit the world, they can also pose new risks to society. For instance, if there is a major failure in computer functions, there is a serious risk that both individuals and society will suffer major losses. Accordingly, it is important to understand how influential groups in society, such as educated youth, will perceive computer risk since the preparedness of a society depends on whether or not they have an accurate risk perception related to computer use....[ Read more ]

In his book, The Rise of the Network Society (1996), Castells has proposed that we are witnessing the emergence of an information society and a network society. This means that societies are now dependent on the functions of computer networks. Although such computer uses can benefit the world, they can also pose new risks to society. For instance, if there is a major failure in computer functions, there is a serious risk that both individuals and society will suffer major losses. Accordingly, it is important to understand how influential groups in society, such as educated youth, will perceive computer risk since the preparedness of a society depends on whether or not they have an accurate risk perception related to computer use.

Theories related to risk include two major approaches, one emphasizing the perspectives of social psychology, and the other taking cultural theory as its point of departure. Each of these theories propose different factors influencing the formation of risk perception in a society. From a psychological perspective, researchers have identified the availability heuristic as a key to understanding the formation of people’s risk perception. Moreover, according to Douglas, Natural Symbols (1970), a society will emphasize aspects of risk based on whether these aspects can reinforce or relate to the moral, political or religious order. Using the typology of grid and group, she has characterized different cultures and shown how their relations to grid and group will affect their views on risk.

Relying primarily on the concepts related to availability heuristics and the typology of grid and group, the author has carried out a questionnaire and interview survey related to computer risk perception among educated youth in Hong Kong and Beijing. The results show that differences in risk perception are likely to be explained by cultural theory. In addition, the thesis examines whether experts and laymen hold different views of these risks, and what the implications of such computer risk perceptions are for society.