What Is An Information Society?

Today we live in an information society. This is an ecosystem conditioned by available technology that allows rapid access to and dissemination of information. If we look around, we will realize that  technological development is everywhere.

These technological innovations are primarily associated with information and communication technology. They have become a  fundamental pillar of everything around us, starting from the education industry.

The origin of the concept

The term, information society, has been used since the 1980s, when the Internet was invented. The concept is therefore associated with the transition from an industrial society to a post-industrial society depending on constant information.

Thanks to information, people create knowledge, which spreads to create even more knowledge.

Benefits of an information society

An information society has certain cultural, social, economic and communication-related benefits. The existence of networks of knowledge and access to them means that we have many sources of information available on every topic that interests us.

In addition, the ease of sharing and disseminating each type of content, as well as globalization, produces a social revolution.

Limitations of information society

The development of information societies depends on legal frameworks and appropriate regulations. If everything is regulated, these implementations and services will be very useful to society. If they do not, however, technology can lead to impunity in our society.

On the other hand, this concept, which continues to grow and change, must avoid social breaks.

Many platforms practically force people to use them. For example, there are more and more processes that can only be performed online. In addition, this digital divide has a large number of variants, such as economy, geography, gender, etc.

Information society as part of our everyday lives

Until a few years ago, information was just a concept. Later, it began to become a possible solution. Today, information is everywhere, especially in developed countries.

In most developed countries, we take this concept for granted, as new generations are born in contexts driven by technological innovation. For them, therefore, it is  difficult to imagine a world where these tools do not exist.

The result of this growth is a world full of technology that weakens social skills. Most of what is now on screens used to be in people’s minds.

In the future, information societies will continue to evolve. At first glance, this change may look promising as it leads to an increased level of sustainability, prosperity, freedom and professional and personal development.

However, the proper development of these communities depends on us and how we use the available technologies. We need to be technologically responsible in order to have a better future.