Final answer:
Communications technology, especially the internet, smart phones, and social networks, is key in overcoming barriers to human interaction and enabling rapid information diffusion. It facilitates global awareness and contributes to shaping significant world events. Telecom advancements also enhance economic connections and international trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factor that has been very important in recent years in overcoming barriers to human interaction and allowing the rapid diffusion of information worldwide is communications technology. Innovations such as the internet, smart phones, and social networks have dramatically changed the landscape of global culture and made it significantly easier to spread news and ideas across the world. Notable historical instances such as the Tiananmen Square protests, the Arab Spring, and the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 were profoundly influenced by these technologies, providing real-time updates and facilitating widespread awareness despite governmental attempts at censorship.
Moreover, the impact of telecommunications has extended to the economy, where it has revolutionized long-distance economic connections involving production and sales. Valuable products and services that can be digitized, such as computer software, financial advice, and entertainment, are now easily transmitted globally at low costs, thanks to the advanced capabilities of modern communication networks. Furthermore, international trade has been bolstered by reductions in tariffs and trade barriers, along with international agreements and treaties, which have been made more effective in the context of improved communication media.