Thoughts on Networked Information

For our Networked Life reading, I decided to read Chapter 9, “Networked Information.” While the whole chapter was a great read, the section The Changing Information and Media Ecology has been sticking with me the most.

There were parts that made me think it was written this year, and others that reminded me how different the internet is today. Rainie and Wellman (2012) cited a 2004 Pew finding that “the most active Internet users are also the most aware of all kinds of political arguments. They are especially attracted to material that conforms to their point of view.” They continue, “the people who use the Internet the most...are also the most likely to be aware of points of view that challenge theirs.”

I can see that being true in 2004, but maybe not as much today. Back then, the internet was clunky. You had to be intentional with how you used it, or you wouldn’t get very far. The most active users were seeking out connection and information (often across viewpoints). How true is that now?

Today, you don’t need to be intentional at all. You open an app and you’re in. With algorithms shaping our feeds, it’s easy to stay inside a bubble without realizing it. All of the world’s information is at our fingertips, but how much do we really know?

Still, I don’t think the authors were wrong about the internet’s potential. If we’re intentional, we can still find diverse perspectives. Maybe the better question isn’t “how much do we know?” but “how much are we willing to learn?” 

Source: 

Rainie, L. & Wellman, B. (2013). Networked: The new social operating system. Boston, MA: MIT Press. [eBook - FSU access]

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