Adjustments in sociotechnical imaginaries: The role of loudspeakers in China’s public health emergencies

Abstract

Focusing on the use of the loudspeaker during the COVID-19 emergency in Shanghai in 2022, this study explores the evolving roles and sociotechnical imaginaries associated with this traditional medium in contemporary emergency management. Drawing on participant observation and interviews, the study reveals the complex emotional landscape surrounding the loudspeaker due to its symbolic associations with authority and power. For some residents, it was perceived as a symbol of coercion and intrusion; for others, especially in moments of uncertainty, it evoked feelings of nostalgia and a sense of security. In response to public sentiment, grassroots administrators began to adapt their communication strategies—modifying language, adding emotional resonance, and embedding elements of cultural identity—to reduce dissatisfaction and foster cooperation. These adaptive practices illustrate a transformation in the socio-technical imaginary of the loudspeaker, from a unidirectional instrument of regulation to a more dynamic medium of interaction. During the public health emergency, it came to serve not only regulatory functions but also acted as a conduit for emotional expression and cultural connection. This study thus extends the theoretical boundaries of socio-technical imagination, offering insights into how older technologies acquire new meanings and relational capacities within the hybrid communicative landscapes of crisis governance.