Alienation and Information Institutions in the Digital Age: An Epistemological Approach

Abstract

The article examines alienation as a multidimensional human phenomenon shaped by psychological, social, economic, political, and technological factors, and analyzes its relationship with information institutions in the digital age from an epistemological perspective. It begins by tracing the linguistic and conceptual meanings of alienation, then explores its presence in the literature of information and communication technology and library studies. The article argues that alienation has received limited direct attention in library and information science, appearing mostly through related concepts such as burnout, work stress, role ambiguity, and job satisfaction. It discusses the types and dimensions of alienation, with particular emphasis on occupational and organizational alienation within information institutions. These include normlessness, loss of control, loss of meaning, self-alienation, bureaucracy, and the absence of organizational justice. The article also identifies indicators of organizational alienation, such as declining job satisfaction, reduced productivity, weak motivation, increased errors, deterioration in user services, and higher rates of turnover and absenteeism. It then addresses digital alienation as a defining feature of the contemporary era, highlighting the effects of technological illiteracy, the complexity of digital tools, and excessive dependence on digital environments in producing frustration, disconnection, and digital exclusion. The article concludes that libraries and information institutions can help mitigate alienation by strengthening social interaction, promoting digital literacy, supporting professional development, balancing virtual services with real-life activities, and building more inclusive and human-centered information environments.