https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.1888
This article provides a theoretical reflection on the impact of digitalization, disinformation, and contemporary forms of communication on the functioning of the younger generation who live at the fluid boundary between the real and digital worlds. It demonstrates that digitalization is not merely a technological process but a multidimensional social transformation, which affects how we think, communicate, and construct reality. The objective of this study is to present selected processes characteristic of the information society and their consequences for the ways in which young people process information, communicate, and build social relationships. The analysis was conducted on the basis of the review of the relevant literature. The first part of the article discusses the development of the concept of the information society, highlighting the importance of information and communication technologies as well as networkedness as the fundamental framework of contemporary social relations. Subsequently, the study presents the phenomena of information overload and the development of Big Data as factors influencing individuals’ functioning in the digital environment. The subsequent part focuses on the issue of disinformation, fake news, and mechanisms of information manipulation, including phenomena such as echo chambers, information bubbles, and the algorithmization of content. It is indicated that the contemporary digital environment fosters the fragmentation of communication and hinders the verification of information. The analysis also addresses the specificity of online communication, including its hybrid and interactive nature, as well as the consequences of the reduction of communication cues characteristic of the offline world. In the part devoted to the younger generation, attention is drawn to the significance of the Internet as an environment of social life and a space for identity formation. The results of the analysis indicate that young people function in an information environment characterized by high dynamics and complexity, which requires the development of media literacy, critical thinking, and conscious digital education aimed at fostering responsible participation in online communication.
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Język Polski
English