Introduction: Social Informatics in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been accelerating digital transformation around the globe since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. Individuals, organizations, and governments have experienced unprecedented information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption and use, willingly or not. The backdrop of the pandemic provides a unique opportunity for us to reflect on and reexamine our relationships with ICTs, as we envision the postpandemic future. This chapter introduces the entire book, especially the core idea of “social informatics” that serves as the underlying theoretical foundation of the book and its chapters to echo the concerns about ICT use and consequences during the pandemic. This edited volume presents empirical cases from different countries and our theoretical exploration of ICT usage and consequences by covering four major themes—governance, information behavior, community, and everyday life. These chapters shed light on the importance of ICTs and unpack the complexity of technology-related practices during the global crisis. We hope to intrigue other researchers to examine the emerging social changes and evolving use of digital tools in a still-unfolding pandemic era.