The dark side of information: can digital literacy shine a light ?

The dark side of information: can digital literacy shine a light ?

David Bawden

City University London

David Bawden

City University London

The dark side of informationThe dark side of information

Paradoxes, pathologies and general bad behaviour

Isn’t information always a good thing ?

Paradoxes, pathologies and general bad behaviour

Isn’t information always a good thing ?

Too much information?Too much information?

Information overload

Reference overload Cognitive overload Continuous partial attention Technostress

Information overload

Reference overload Cognitive overload Continuous partial attention Technostress

It’s making me illIt’s making me ill

Information anxiety Library anxiety Infobesity Information avoidance Bad satisficing

Information anxiety Library anxiety Infobesity Information avoidance Bad satisficing

Paradox of choiceParadox of choice

How much jam is enough ?

I’ll maximise if I want to !

How much jam is enough ?

I’ll maximise if I want to !

Web 2 and the end of the worldWeb 2 and the end of the world

Cult of the amateur Loss of identity Shallow novelty Impermanence

Cult of the amateur Loss of identity Shallow novelty Impermanence

Are these problems real ?Are these problems real ?

Not many thorough surveys

A lot of anecdote and opinion

All very contextual

Does it matter anyway ?

Not many thorough surveys

A lot of anecdote and opinion

All very contextual

Does it matter anyway ?

If these are real problems..If these are real problems..

Is digital literacy part of the solution ? Is digital literacy part of the solution ?

Digital literacyDigital literacy

Idea introduced by Paul Gilster in 1997 Now taken up by European Commission Broader concept than ‘information literacy’

Idea introduced by Paul Gilster in 1997 Now taken up by European Commission Broader concept than ‘information literacy’

Four components of digital literacy

Four components of digital literacy

basics background knowledge central competencies attitudes and perspectives

basics background knowledge central competencies attitudes and perspectives

Digital literacy: basicsDigital literacy: basics

Literacy

Computer / ICT literacy

Literacy

Computer / ICT literacy

Digital literacy: background knowledge

Digital literacy: background knowledge

the world of information

nature of information resources

the world of information

nature of information resources

Digital literacy: central competences

Digital literacy: central competences

reading and understanding digital and non-digital formats

creating and communicating information evaluating information knowledge assembly information literacy media literacy

reading and understanding digital and non-digital formats

creating and communicating information evaluating information knowledge assembly information literacy media literacy

Digital literacy: attitudes and perspectives

Digital literacy: attitudes and perspectives

independent learning

moral / social literacy

independent learning

moral / social literacy

Proposition…Proposition…

a digitally literate person would avoid the dark side

and would cope well with a changing information environment

a digitally literate person would avoid the dark side

and would cope well with a changing information environment

Studies neededStudies needed

Are the ‘dark side’ problems real ? If so, in what contexts are they most

damaging ? Can increasing digital literacy help ? What role do library / information

specialists have in promoting digital literacy, and in keeping their users out of the dark ?

Are the ‘dark side’ problems real ? If so, in what contexts are they most

damaging ? Can increasing digital literacy help ? What role do library / information

specialists have in promoting digital literacy, and in keeping their users out of the dark ?