Looking into the information that shapes people

Our current reality is pervaded with highly developed systems and replete with freely circulating information. As technological innovations rush forward, the amount of information a regular person comes across throughout their life increases dramatically.
A paradox arises: our actions are based on information obtained, but our lifetime is limited, so at some point we are forced to sift through information, ignoring the unnecessary parts. Thus you know that by pressing a button on your smartphone you can exchange information, but you use this function without understanding the technology behind it.
The same applies to verbal expressions and knowledge. For instance, “the state of Japan” is the basis of Japanese society, yet when people use this expression in everyday life, they do not reflect upon the exact meaning of words “Japan” or “state” — both terms are treated as self-evident.
We need to improve the way we handle words and knowledge, to cultivate a literacy of sorts. Otherwise we risk facing consequences more serious than being added to someone’s friend list without knowing. It is, after all, knowledge and speech that makes an individual. In my research I aim to develop a new look on the formation processes of both in modern times.