Capitalism and the Digital Age: a Critical View of Social Theories

The purpose of the study is to critically analyze the trends of modern capitalism in connection with the development of new digital technologies. To achieve this goal, the author turns to the consideration of a number of modern social theories, where a critical look at the problems of capitalism and the digital age is offered. The methodological basis of the research. The article is based on the analysis of the works of modern social theorists discussing the problems of «platform capitalism» (N. Srnicek), «postcapitalism» (P. Mason), «communicative capitalism» (J. Dean). In addition, in the light of criticism of modern capitalism, the author of the article turned to the texts of T. Eagleton and S. Žižek.   Research results. The modern digital age is a product of the capitalism development. At the same time, an important problem for modern social theories is the discussion of the role of new digital technologies in the transformations of the capitalist system. In this regard, two approaches should be distinguished: the first approach believes that the development of digital technologies contributes to the overcoming of capitalism; the second approach argues that these technologies, on the contrary, reinforce the capitalist system of hierarchy and inequality.   Prospects for the study. The problem of capitalism and the digital age remains open for further critical analysis. The main condition for such an analysis is an appeal to the real contradictions of the modern world, the trends of its socio-economic development.