Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems
A sequence of technological inventions over several centuries has dramatically lowered the cost of producing and distributing information. Because societies ride on a substrate of information, these changes have profoundly impacted how we live, work, and interact. This paper explores the nature of i...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | npj Complexity |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44260-025-00037-z |
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| author | Paul E. Smaldino Adam Russell Matthew R. Zefferman Judith Donath Jacob G. Foster Douglas Guilbeault Martin Hilbert Elizabeth A. Hobson Kristina Lerman Helena Miton Cody Moser Jana Lasser Sonja Schmer-Galunder Jacob N. Shapiro Qiankun Zhong Dan Patt |
| author_facet | Paul E. Smaldino Adam Russell Matthew R. Zefferman Judith Donath Jacob G. Foster Douglas Guilbeault Martin Hilbert Elizabeth A. Hobson Kristina Lerman Helena Miton Cody Moser Jana Lasser Sonja Schmer-Galunder Jacob N. Shapiro Qiankun Zhong Dan Patt |
| author_sort | Paul E. Smaldino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A sequence of technological inventions over several centuries has dramatically lowered the cost of producing and distributing information. Because societies ride on a substrate of information, these changes have profoundly impacted how we live, work, and interact. This paper explores the nature of information architectures (IAs)—the features that govern how information flows within human populations. IAs include physical and digital infrastructures, norms and institutions, and algorithmic technologies for filtering, producing, and disseminating information. IAs can reinforce societal biases and lead to prosocial outcomes as well as social ills. IAs have culturally evolved rapidly with human usage, creating new affordances and new problems for the dynamics of social interaction. We explore societal outcomes instigated by shifts in IAs and call for an enhanced understanding of the social implications of increasing IA complexity, the nature of competition among IAs, and the creation of mechanisms for the beneficial use of IAs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7780ac2f7fc34b0e84d8cb22cfbc6a0a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2731-8753 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Complexity |
| spelling | doaj-art-7780ac2f7fc34b0e84d8cb22cfbc6a0a2025-08-20T02:27:50ZengNature Portfolionpj Complexity2731-87532025-04-012111110.1038/s44260-025-00037-zInformation architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systemsPaul E. Smaldino0Adam Russell1Matthew R. Zefferman2Judith Donath3Jacob G. Foster4Douglas Guilbeault5Martin Hilbert6Elizabeth A. Hobson7Kristina Lerman8Helena Miton9Cody Moser10Jana Lasser11Sonja Schmer-Galunder12Jacob N. Shapiro13Qiankun Zhong14Dan Patt15Department of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California-MercedInformation Sciences Institute, University of Southern CaliforniaDepartment of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate SchoolBerkman Klein Center, Harvard UniversitySanta Fe InstituteGraduate School of Business, Stanford UniversityDepartment of Communication, University of California-DavisDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of CincinnatiInformation Sciences Institute, University of Southern CaliforniaGraduate School of Business, Stanford UniversityDepartment of Cognitive and Information Sciences, University of California-MercedIDea_Lab, University of GrazDepartment of Computer & Information Science & Engineering, University of FloridaDepartment of Politics, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton UniversityMax Planck Institute for Human DevelopmentHudson InstituteA sequence of technological inventions over several centuries has dramatically lowered the cost of producing and distributing information. Because societies ride on a substrate of information, these changes have profoundly impacted how we live, work, and interact. This paper explores the nature of information architectures (IAs)—the features that govern how information flows within human populations. IAs include physical and digital infrastructures, norms and institutions, and algorithmic technologies for filtering, producing, and disseminating information. IAs can reinforce societal biases and lead to prosocial outcomes as well as social ills. IAs have culturally evolved rapidly with human usage, creating new affordances and new problems for the dynamics of social interaction. We explore societal outcomes instigated by shifts in IAs and call for an enhanced understanding of the social implications of increasing IA complexity, the nature of competition among IAs, and the creation of mechanisms for the beneficial use of IAs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44260-025-00037-z |
| spellingShingle | Paul E. Smaldino Adam Russell Matthew R. Zefferman Judith Donath Jacob G. Foster Douglas Guilbeault Martin Hilbert Elizabeth A. Hobson Kristina Lerman Helena Miton Cody Moser Jana Lasser Sonja Schmer-Galunder Jacob N. Shapiro Qiankun Zhong Dan Patt Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems npj Complexity |
| title | Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems |
| title_full | Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems |
| title_fullStr | Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems |
| title_short | Information architectures: a framework for understanding socio-technical systems |
| title_sort | information architectures a framework for understanding socio technical systems |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44260-025-00037-z |
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