Laws shaping the reality of information dissemination

Now and in the future, we will have to occasionally discuss three influential laws of information dissemination. The wheel of time cannot be turned back, and a truthful approach to a sea and more of information becomes a virtue.

There are three forms of information dissemination in total, which, in themselves, are neither good nor bad, yet still not neutral, as Bernhard Pörksen expresses in his book »The Great Irritation« in memory of the technology historian Melvin Kranzberg.

Information that falls under digital dissemination is too fast to become wise immediately. This form of information is – once circulated – rarely recallable and thus unrestrictedly accessible. If the information irritates the mind, excitation spirals arise, as the late Professor Kruse aptly described in 2010 in the Commission on the Internet and Digital Society of the German Bundestag.

It is worth listening from minute 34:25, and the later remarks by Peter Kruse are just as enlightening.

Information spread at the speed of light is not very compatible with the human mind. In trying to keep up with the information, we must reduce to manage the flow. Yet, every single drop that is rubbed into our eyes arrives more and more uninvited. Therefore, I recall another incident from 2010.

Peter Wippermann, a well-known trend researcher, used the term »Flow Control« in the context of the 15th German Trend Day. He referred to the challenges and opportunities of living in virtual worlds. Wippermann's concept of Flow Control aims to gain control over the flow of information and one's digital presence. It's about consciously dealing with digital technologies to avoid overwhelm while effectively leveraging the benefits of networking.

The book »The Great Irritation« from 2018 remains a recommendation even half a decade later.