The negative impact of the modern information environment: the psychological aspects

Abstract

The problems of clogging up the information environment false and malicious information, as well as its purposeful dissemination through social networks are considered. An analysis of existing opinions on the harmful psychological impact of information on the personality, as well as the possibilities of realizing these impacts in modern conditions is carried out. The information influence influences the behavior of a person through the psyche, changing the components of consciousness of personality. The form of negative information impact analyzed in the article is manipulation. The targets of manipulative actions are consciousness, a picture of the world, a world outlook, a person's life position. Her targets are consciousness, a picture of the world, a worldview, a person's life position. Ways to achieve results: distortion of information; disinformation; personification; filtration; individualization of the impact. The main mechanisms of information distortion are considered. The creation and distribution of 'false news' appears as a way of manipulating consciousness. With the individualized determination of information retrieval, the results on the user's request are built based on the analysis of his location, the history of searches and adherences. The user is presented only with information that is consistent with his previous views. Filtering algorithms make personalized news feed of the user from the news stream; through information filters, the user is isolated in his own information bubble. Arises is an effect of the echo camera, which fixes the worldview inherent in man and distorts the picture of reality. Information technologies allow individualizing a psychological effect on a person using the personification of data about him. The basis of personification is the 'digital traces', left by the user in the electronic databases of the Internet. As part of information pollution, there are: 1) redundant information; 2) misinformation. Information pollution can be not only a by-product, but also be created consciously and purposefully. These are false, fabricated, propaganda news. Increasing the pressure of information technologies on the individual increases the importance of information ecology in protecting a person from information that pollutes the information environment.