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Inflation of Meaning: How Information Lost Its Value
Inflation of Meaning: How Information Lost Its Value
From scarcity to overabundance: the journey of information through the ages
From scarcity to overabundance: the journey of information through the ages
Just a few centuries ago, information was the most precious and hard-to-reach asset. Civilization was built on the ability to preserve and transmit knowledge: from oral traditions and the wisdom of teachers, to hand-written books that cost a small fortune. Owning even a modest library was a privilege of the select few.
Just a few centuries ago, information was the most precious and hard-to-reach asset. Civilization was built on the ability to preserve and transmit knowledge: from oral traditions and the wisdom of teachers, to hand-written books that cost a small fortune. Owning even a modest library was a privilege of the select few.
Today the situation has changed radically. But when information became free and able to spread instantly around the world, humanity confronted the flip side — an overabundance of content: spam, advertising, an unending stream of news.
Today the situation has changed radically. But when information became free and able to spread instantly around the world, humanity confronted the flip side — an overabundance of content: spam, advertising, an unending stream of news.
In this new reality the scarce resource is no longer content, but human attention. And now it’s not the consumer who seeks access to information — it’s the content creators who fight for our views and attention, which has become the new currency. We are at a turning point: information has gone from being a sacred resource to noise, and society is searching for new ways to learn to value and filter the excess again.
In this new reality the scarce resource is no longer content, but human attention. And now it’s not the consumer who seeks access to information — it’s the content creators who fight for our views and attention, which has become the new currency. We are at a turning point: information has gone from being a sacred resource to noise, and society is searching for new ways to learn to value and filter the excess again.
When knowledge was worth more than gold
When knowledge was worth more than gold
In antiquity knowledge was passed from mouth to ear, and it was unreliable. One philosopher asked his students not to write down his thoughts because his ideas were supposed to live on through the ages. Ironic, but that is the last thing we know about him. When he died, his wisdom slipped away with him — if it had not been written down.
In antiquity knowledge was passed from mouth to ear, and it was unreliable. One philosopher asked his students not to write down his thoughts because his ideas were supposed to live on through the ages. Ironic, but that is the last thing we know about him. When he died, his wisdom slipped away with him — if it had not been written down.
Information was not just a value-asset — it was a privilege. Libraries, universities, rare manuscripts or craft secrets belonged to only a few. Access to knowledge opened the path to power and wealth.
Information was not just a value-asset — it was a privilege. Libraries, universities, rare manuscripts or craft secrets belonged to only a few. Access to knowledge opened the path to power and wealth.
Books, transcribed by hand, were valued incredibly highly. Even a small library of four or five books could cost a fortune. One book might be traded for a herd of horses or a flock of cows.
Books, transcribed by hand, were valued incredibly highly. Even a small library of four or five books could cost a fortune. One book might be traded for a herd of horses or a flock of cows.
The Library of Alexandria was the greatest collection of knowledge in antiquity: states poured vast resources into gathering and safeguarding scrolls, seeing it as a strategic advantage.
The Library of Alexandria was the greatest collection of knowledge in antiquity: states poured vast resources into gathering and safeguarding scrolls, seeing it as a strategic advantage.
Александрийская библиотека была крупнейшим собранием знаний античности: государства тратили огромные ресурсы на то, чтобы собирать и хранить свитки, считая это стратегическим преимуществом.
Александрийская библиотека была крупнейшим собранием знаний античности: государства тратили огромные ресурсы на то, чтобы собирать и хранить свитки, считая это стратегическим преимуществом.
In the Middle Ages scribes in monasteries spent years copying one book and each manuscript was the product of immense labour.
In the Middle Ages scribes in monasteries spent years copying one book and each manuscript was the product of immense labour.
In China the invention of paper and printing was a technological revolution, yet for a long time even paper remained a precious resource.
In China the invention of paper and printing was a technological revolution, yet for a long time even paper remained a precious resource.
The first universities in Europe were built around libraries: access to books was as important as lectures by professors.
The first universities in Europe were built around libraries: access to books was as important as lectures by professors.
Ownership of knowledge—or access to rare texts—served not only as a status symbol but as an instrument of power – information could determine the fate of nations.
Ownership of knowledge—or access to rare texts—served not only as a status symbol but as an instrument of power – information could determine the fate of nations.
The digital revolution: when everyone became an author
The digital revolution: when everyone became an author
The printing press was the first great revolution in the history of knowledge dissemination. It cheapened books, made them mass-market, and broke the monopoly on access to information. The world first discovered what it meant to not keep wisdom locked in monastery walls, but to release it to the broad masses.
The printing press was the first great revolution in the history of knowledge dissemination. It cheapened books, made them mass-market, and broke the monopoly on access to information. The world first discovered what it meant to not keep wisdom locked in monastery walls, but to release it to the broad masses.
The Internet went even further. It wiped out the cost of copying and distribution. Any text, photo, or video can be replicated endlessly — with no loss, no cost. The economic nature of information changed: what was once a scarce resource became virtually inexhaustible.
The Internet went even further. It wiped out the cost of copying and distribution. Any text, photo, or video can be replicated endlessly — with no loss, no cost. The economic nature of information changed: what was once a scarce resource became virtually inexhaustible.
The network erased barriers. Today anyone can be not only a reader but also an author. Any blog, page, or channel can reach millions. But with this the model itself changed: if we used to pay for newspapers and books with money, now we pay with our attention.
The network erased barriers. Today anyone can be not only a reader but also an author. Any blog, page, or channel can reach millions. But with this the model itself changed: if we used to pay for newspapers and books with money, now we pay with our attention.
Thus the approach is completely reversed: content became cheap to produce, but reaching an audience is becoming ever harder. The more content there is on the internet, the less chance that your content will be seen, and the harder it becomes for the consumer to find what they need.
Thus the approach is completely reversed: content became cheap to produce, but reaching an audience is becoming ever harder. The more content there is on the internet, the less chance that your content will be seen, and the harder it becomes for the consumer to find what they need.
This shift also turned education on its head. Once education was available only in large cities. Later schools appeared everywhere and education became a public good, and libraries sources of free knowledge for all. And with the spread of the internet learning became possible from anywhere in the world.
This shift also turned education on its head. Once education was available only in large cities. Later schools appeared everywhere and education became a public good, and libraries sources of free knowledge for all. And with the spread of the internet learning became possible from anywhere in the world.
Still, the value of information did not disappear. One need only recall the “Zoomer revolution” in Nepal in autumn 2025, when youth took to the streets after internet and social-media access was blocked. It shows that although we have grown used to and don’t notice the availability of information—taking it for granted—when we are deprived of it, it leads to social upheaval.
Still, the value of information did not disappear. One need only recall the “Zoomer revolution” in Nepal in autumn 2025, when youth took to the streets after internet and social-media access was blocked. It shows that although we have grown used to and don’t notice the availability of information—taking it for granted—when we are deprived of it, it leads to social upheaval.
Fakes, spam and fatigue: the era of the information-crisis
Fakes, spam and fatigue: the era of the information-crisis
In the early 2000s humanity faced a new crisis – a crisis of information overabundance. There was so much of it that it turned into noise. Spam, pop-up banners, endless news – all of this crashed down on people in a flood, depriving them of the ability to distinguish what was important from what was superfluous.
In the early 2000s humanity faced a new crisis – a crisis of information overabundance. There was so much of it that it turned into noise. Spam, pop-up banners, endless news – all of this crashed down on people in a flood, depriving them of the ability to distinguish what was important from what was superfluous.
With quantity came the problem of quality. Fakes, disinformation, manipulation – trust in information collapsed. The user spends energy not on learning something new, but on verifying credibility. Instead of acquiring new knowledge, we are forced to filter an endless stream of dubious data.
With quantity came the problem of quality. Fakes, disinformation, manipulation – trust in information collapsed. The user spends energy not on learning something new, but on verifying credibility. Instead of acquiring new knowledge, we are forced to filter an endless stream of dubious data.
The arrival of AI added new problems. Neural nets can generate texts and images, but sometimes they make up facts and create photorealistic fakes. Viral neural-net-generated videos of “kangaroos in the airport” and the like have spread, when viewers at first believed they were seeing real footage. Then things get worse. Other algorithms begin to train on those distortions, accepting them as “original”. And real knowledge risks drowning in an ocean of invention.
The arrival of AI added new problems. Neural nets can generate texts and images, but sometimes they make up facts and create photorealistic fakes. Viral neural-net-generated videos of “kangaroos in the airport” and the like have spread, when viewers at first believed they were seeing real footage. Then things get worse. Other algorithms begin to train on those distortions, accepting them as “original”. And real knowledge risks drowning in an ocean of invention.
The development of information is analogous to society’s struggle for food. At first information, like food in previous centuries, was hard to obtain and extremely expensive. Technology development made information accessible and cheap calories available. Our next challenge shifted from fighting hunger to fighting obesity. The same happened with information: the hunger for information and the search for sacred knowledge switched to a surfeit of content.
The development of information is analogous to society’s struggle for food. At first information, like food in previous centuries, was hard to obtain and extremely expensive. Technology development made information accessible and cheap calories available. Our next challenge shifted from fighting hunger to fighting obesity. The same happened with information: the hunger for information and the search for sacred knowledge switched to a surfeit of content.
The reaction of the new generation became a push toward simplicity and conciseness taken to the extreme. Short videos, posts of a few lines. But the problem isn’t just length. Often short content is meaningless and carries no substantive value, yet it gives dopamine reinforcement. Whole platforms emerged for such content: TikTok, X‑Twitter (formerly Twitter), and others. And surely we are not yet at the end of the evolution of content and ways to consume it.
The reaction of the new generation became a push toward simplicity and conciseness taken to the extreme. Short videos, posts of a few lines. But the problem isn’t just length. Often short content is meaningless and carries no substantive value, yet it gives dopamine reinforcement. Whole platforms emerged for such content: TikTok, X‑Twitter (formerly Twitter), and others. And surely we are not yet at the end of the evolution of content and ways to consume it.
Conclusions: where the Information Era is headed
Conclusions: where the Information Era is headed
Humanity has travelled a long road: from the rarest manuscripts to a world where information is abundant and available everywhere. But along with this a new problem emerged — “information fatigue”. Today the main challenge is no longer finding knowledge, but for the reader to distinguish truth from noise and fakes, and for the content creator to reach the right audience and be heard.
Humanity has travelled a long road: from the rarest manuscripts to a world where information is abundant and available everywhere. But along with this a new problem emerged — “information fatigue”. Today the main challenge is no longer finding knowledge, but for the reader to distinguish truth from noise and fakes, and for the content creator to reach the right audience and be heard.
The habit of simple, emotionally-charged content gradually erodes critical thinking, and texts and images created by neural networks add doubts about where reality ends and invention begins.
The habit of simple, emotionally-charged content gradually erodes critical thinking, and texts and images created by neural networks add doubts about where reality ends and invention begins.
The future of information technologies will increasingly relate to quality. The value will go not to those who produce an endless stream of content, but to those who know how to verify facts, structure data, and offer reliable sources. Already now we see growing interest in verification tools, personalization, and systems fighting disinformation.
The future of information technologies will increasingly relate to quality. The value will go not to those who produce an endless stream of content, but to those who know how to verify facts, structure data, and offer reliable sources. Already now we see growing interest in verification tools, personalization, and systems fighting disinformation.
The approach to education will change, too. Instead of rote-learning facts, the focus will shift to the ability to think critically, analyse and select the essential.
The approach to education will change, too. Instead of rote-learning facts, the focus will shift to the ability to think critically, analyse and select the essential.
Perhaps we will also see a return to a “premium-information” model (paid subscriptions for exclusive content), where people pay not for mere access, but for confidence in the reliability of data.
Perhaps we will also see a return to a “premium-information” model (paid subscriptions for exclusive content), where people pay not for mere access, but for confidence in the reliability of data.
What the next mode of consumption will be – short formats or something entirely new – is still hard to predict. But one thing is clear: information technology must find a balance. It must preserve the freedom of knowledge dissemination, while at the same time protect society from deception and overload. That is the crucial task of the future.
What the next mode of consumption will be – short formats or something entirely new – is still hard to predict. But one thing is clear: information technology must find a balance. It must preserve the freedom of knowledge dissemination, while at the same time protect society from deception and overload. That is the crucial task of the future.
Publication Date: 24 Sep 2025
Publication Date: 24 Sep 2025
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