In our society, access to information is at an all-time high, to such an extent that many of us feel we are drowning in information. Yet at the same time, we are experiencing an increasing sense of isolation from our neighbors and alienation from our communities. People are apathetic about government, and feel little connection or commitment to the places they live.
Information technology is a double-edged sword.
Depending on how it is used, it can serve to further isolate us from one another. One could make a good case that television, an information technology introduced several decades ago, bears considerable responsibility for the decay of our sense of community, in that it encourages us to stay glued to the tube rather than socializing with our neighbors. Today, browsing the Web is a similarly isolating experience. But the information technologies now available can also be used to reduce social isolation. Applications like e-mail and online group discussions can bring people together in ways never before possible.