Final answer:
The spread of ideas such as democratic ideals and the impact of social media have significantly changed the diffusion of information. Technological innovations in communication have led to increased global interconnectedness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ideas that were spread widely and quickly often revolved around significant cultural, political, and technological changes. For instance, the ideas of democratic ideals and philosophical movements like existentialism and pragmatism saw widespread diffusion. Similarly, modern communication tools, like social media, have dramatically altered the spread of information and ideas.
In the historical context, the invention of the printing press was revolutionary, facilitating the mass production of text and contributing to the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The recent advent of the Internet and social media platforms, however, has taken the diffusion of ideas to unprecedented levels. It has enabled real-time sharing of information, ideas, and culture at a global scale, significantly influencing social practices and political movements, as seen in events such as the Arab Spring.
Diverse forces, including trade, invasions, and technological advancements, have contributed to a globally interconnected culture, further enhanced by the permeability of contemporary media against censorship. The story of the diffusion of Chinese papermaking, for example, demonstrates how technologies and ideas can spread beyond their origins through complex interactions, including but not limited to trade routes like the Silk Roads.