Sociological study of the internet: Towards the establishment of digital sociology in Serbia

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify core topics, theoretical approaches and methodological techniques applied in the sociological study of the internet in Serbia. Moreover, the paper assesses obstacles and potentials for the establishment of a specialized sociological discipline – digital sociology – in Serbia. Method of content analysis is applied to the selection of scientific papers published in the two most important sociological journals in Serbia: Sociology and Sociological Review, in the period 1994–2018. Research findings show that topics typical for digital sociology do not receive enough attention among Serbian scholars, but that there are some indications of growing interest in the field. While there is still some lagging behind the developments of digital sociology in the world, the research findings suggest that the major trends have been followed. Empirical findings on the social impacts of digital technologies in Serbia present a valuable contribution to the international research efforts in this area of study.