ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Social artifact

Okay kiddo, you know how when we go to a museum, we see things like paintings, sculptures, and old things that people used a long time ago? Those things that people made or used are called artifacts.

A social artifact is a type of artifact that helps us understand how people lived and interacted with each other in their groups or societies. It can be a tool, a symbol, a document, or an object that represents or reflects some aspect of human behavior or culture.

For example, a social artifact could be a wedding ring, which shows that someone is married and committed to their partner. It could also be a flag, which represents a country or a group of people and shows their pride or unity. It could even be a cell phone, which shows how people communicate and connect with each other in today's society.

By studying these social artifacts, we can learn more about how people lived in the past or how they live today. We can also learn about their beliefs, values, traditions, and customs, which can help us understand their way of life and how it affects their relationships and interactions with others.

So, social artifacts are important things that people made or used that help us understand how they lived and interacted with each other in their society. It's like looking at pictures of your grandparents when they were young and learning what life was like for them back then.