The Alternation Between Networked and Hierarchical Structures and Their Disruption

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New disruptive technologies often arise during conflicts between network systems. The web itself functioned as a loose network, resembling oral cultures. However, hierarchical systems coexist and challenge these networks. For example, the printing press challenged the power of the Roman Catholic Church, leading to societal disruptions. Similarly, the web disrupted traditional knowledge brokers like publishers and record companies. Yet, new hierarchies, such as big tech companies, have emerged. This back and forth between networks and hierarchies is a dynamic that continues to shape society.

Alex Wright is the Head of User Experience at Google News. He’s also an author, and his most recent book, Informatica, is the second edition of Glut, his deep history of the information age. In this conversation, we discuss the history of information technologies and why learning about it matters to people who work in tech.

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