According to James Burke (British historical scientist) , the rate of change is proportional to the flow of information. Thus, as there are more ways to communicate and/or communication is faster, change will happen faster.

According to James Burke, to what is the rate of change proportional?

James Burke, science historian, did an interesting video series in the 1980's entitled "The Day the Universe Changed: A Personal View by James Burke".

The title comes from the philosophical idea that the universe essentially only exists as you perceive it through what you know; therefore, if you change your perception of the universe with new knowledge, you have essentially changed the universe itself. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Universe_Changed

Alter reality to make it fit what you have already decided it is. James Burke (British historical scientist)

One sees this in some works of Biblical literature such as Dante's Inferno and Milton's Paradise Lost.

James Burke (British historical scientist) says (paraphrased) that people do not want reality as raw data - it scares them and they cannot understand it. They prefer an artistic impression of reality that is easier to accept, even if it is not correct.