Information Rules

Dixya Poudel 

It is an age of information that enables people to connect and communicate with one another nearly at the blink of an eye. The speed of light might be the fastest irrefutably but the current speed of the internet isn’t any less remarkable. Most millennials will likely remember an era when computers were slow to boot and even slower were the workings of the modem. The times are different now. The outmoded modem is replaced by a sleek router that fires up the speed on which one can browse the internet. And it has in turn affected the way information and data are accessed and perused. 

Remember when the library was the go-to place for research? How one had to slowly flick through the catalogues for the relevant information! Now in place of the library, the world has internet that speeds up the exchange of information and the flow of communication. A reader in Nepal can learn about the current news and events as soon as a reader in the United States does. This flow of information has enabled a global order. Information has become ammunition in the current age and time. It isn’t thus surprising that global organisations guard their internal data with utmost secrecy.

 In fact, corporations throughout the world are terrified of having their classified documents published in the internet. Given the clout of data and information in the technologically advanced world, governments and organisations invest hugely in cyber security. And for tech giants such as those in Silicon Valley, information is money which in turn determines the global market. It could explain why data is mined through technology even at the expense of the user’s privacy. Information is now key to new and evolving tech.

Globally, smartphones have become the portal to the information available online. It has expedited the way information is transacted in both the online and offline world, changing socio-economic dynamics. Unsurprisingly, information has become essential to learn and grow; carry out research; maintain security and safety; increase knowledge; ensure transparency and accountability; encourage better decisions and communication; enhance creativity; problem solve; and more importantly boost progress. It is how a society today establishes a sense of order.

 And effective information flow enables smooth functioning of local bodies, organisations and governments. For the citizens of a nation, it makes sure that those on higher positions are held accountable. Overall, information is a form of currency and those who are well-informed have a greater level of influence. With it, one can gain an upper hand.  

However, there are pitfalls too. There is a term called ‘information overload’ that signifies the strain of excessive information which becomes more than one can manage. It is seen in students who research through their electronic devices with multiple tabs on. It is observed in office workers who have to juggle the outpouring of information in their work.

 Information overload takes over the focus of an individual and leads to poor performance. It confuses, distracts and dishevels the attention span of a person. Thus, it has become important to effectively manage the information flow. As such, it can be said that while the more information one wields, the more eminent one becomes, it warrants unforeseen hazards as well that require a certain level of caution.