The dark side of information technology: Mini-track Introduction

Abstract

Researchers and practitioners have started understanding that the use of Information technologies (IT) can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they provide benefits to individuals, organizations and societies. On the other, technologies can produce adverse and often unexpected consequences for individuals, organizations and societies. Much research has been devoted to the possible positive aspects of technologies, such as increased productivity and performance. Only in recent years we start seeing systematic research on possible negative aspects and consequences of technology use, dubbed as the "dark side" of IT use. This mini-track aims at expanding this line of work and helping researchers and practitioners to better understand, and possibly tackle, the "dark side" of IT use.