As of 2024, over 5 billion people, more than 65% of the world’s population, have access to the internet. This has created unprecedented access to information through websites, digital libraries, educational platforms, and social media.
Mobile Technology- facilitating a power law distribution
Around 6.6 billion people globally use smartphones. In the last 2 decades 4 billion new phone users have come into being. This accessibility means people can access information anytime and anywhere, increasing the reach of education, news, and global events.
Open Access to Knowledge – Free courseware
Initiatives like Wikipedia, which contains over 60 million collaboratively contributed articles in various languages, and Google Scholar, a freely accessible web search engine for academic papers, have made reliable information easily available. Many scientific journals, government publications, and even some university-level courses (via MOOCs like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy) are accessible for free.
Social Media Platforms – sharing is caring
Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), and YouTube have created a global information-sharing space where over 4.8 billion people can consume and distribute content. These platforms serve not only as social networks but also as tools for news, education, and commerce. You can argue the merits of it but it’s accessible and free.
Search Engines- from search engines to answer engines
Tools like Google handle more than 8.5 billion searches per day, putting vast amounts of information at users’ fingertips with just a few keystrokes. This rapid retrieval system has radically changed the way people access knowledge.
Data Explosion – more is merrier
The amount of digital data produced is growing exponentially, with an estimated 175 zettabytes of data expected to exist by 2025. This vast reservoir of information includes everything from scientific research and government statistics to personal blogs and entertainment content.
Increased Literacy Rates- misery to hope to triumph
Global literacy rates have increased dramatically in the last century. In 1900, only 21% of the global population could read and write, compared to over 86% in 2020. More literate populations can engage with and contribute to the vast amount of information available online.
Language Translation Tools- Parlez-vous francais?
Translation technology, such as Google Translate and AI-driven services, has made information more accessible across languages, bridging gaps between speakers of different tongues and making global content more universally available.
The barriers of geography, affluence, access to education are going down.