Information ecology, problems and negative impacts in the context of information technologies

Abstract

Information ecology is the presentation of a middle way between theories of the influence of new technologies on human life and culture. We know from practice that technology is either taken as the salvation of humanity or as a tool to exterminate life on planet Earth. The article primarily presents the relatively unknown concept of information ecology, aiming to define the idea of information ecology in modern information science. It also describes other closely related concepts of digital well-being and digital ecology. Information ecology wants to teach us to use, but not abuse, technical inventions. Although we are partly dependent on technology, we must not let this dependence grow unhealthy. Theoretically, the article analyzes the main problems of the information environment and discusses the consequences of informationally 'unhealthy' behavior.