Abstract
Digital technologies have significantly expanded access to information, but they have also
created conditions of excess that affect how people think, relate, and communicate. This
paper examines human sociality in the context of information glut from a Library and
Information Science perspective. It discusses how excessive information influences
everyday interaction, trust, participation, and inclusion. The paper argues that information
glut can weaken social relationships by placing pressure on attention, spreading
misinformation, and reducing shared understanding. These effects are shaped by social and
digital inequalities. The paper further highlights the role of libraries as trusted social
institutions that support thoughtful engagement with information through information
literacy, mediation, and inclusive services. It concludes that human-centred information
practices remain essential for sustaining meaningful social relations in information-rich
societies.
Keywords: Human sociality; information glut; information overload; library and information science; information behaviour; information literacy
Publication Date: 2026-05-03