Jacob Siegel's book "The Information State" traces how modern governments govern through data collection and digital control, from Francis Bacon's Enlightenment thinking through Woodrow Wilson's propaganda efforts to the post-9/11 internet age. Siegel argues the information state emerged as a distinct regime after 2001, distinct from both authoritarianism and democracy, where political power derives from controlling databases, algorithms, and digital platforms rather than physical territory or capital.
A 2018 essay critiques Waldenponding—the philosophy of retreating from technology to reclaim attention—arguing it's counterproductive both personally and collectively. The author contends that staying plugged into information flows and managing attention actively is preferable to unplugging, and that retreat exploits Fear Of Being Ordinary (FOBO) just as social media exploits Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO).
The author reflects on what they initially perceived as internet and smartphone addiction, ultimately concluding they are actually addicted to information discovery. They describe how algorithmic recommendations and short-form content fail to deliver the meaningful, life-changing information they once found online, and express nostalgia for the exploratory internet of the past.