Information is everywhere. Social media, news portals, blogs, and beyond. Staying informed has never been easier, and that’s a good thing, but too much of anything never works out well.
The sheer volume of digital information we handle every day can easily become overwhelming; plus, with so much information coming your way, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. You end up confused or even with burnout.
Of course, you want to avoid this, and the good news is – you can. It’s just a matter of picking and choosing through information and paying attention to what’s important and what will benefit you.
How do you do that? We’ll tell you all about it.
The Challenges of Information Overload
When you’re bombarded with more information than you’re able to process, the result is information overload. The constant flow of information you’re dealing with daily can make it hard to make decisions because you get stuck sorting through an endless amount of data. It can also take a toll on your mental health.
According to studies data by Frontiers, 66% of people experience information overload due to the constant flow of digital information/connectivity, resulting in technostress.
Furthermore, a 2023 study by the American Psychology Association (APA) shows that 43% of individuals reported struggling with decision-making and mental fatigue due to information overload.
Social media networks like Google, Facebook, and X use algorithms to tailor information based on what you look at most, and this often leads to “filter bubbles,” where you see the same type of information over and over.
According to studies by APA, people spend approximately 7 hours per day consuming digital information. This behavior massively contributes to feelings of burnout and mental fatigue (associated with information overload).
When this happens, the information overload is even greater, plus it’s more difficult to break out of biassed information streams. Misinformation spreads like wildfire in this type of environment, so it’s more important than ever to find accurate, verified sources.
3 Ways How to Filter and Access Quality Information
In the age of endless amounts of data, it’s important to know how to filter through the noise and get to what you really need.
1. Credible Sources
The first step is to only use credible sources. This would be your major news outlets, academic institutions, and government websites that have reliable, balanced information.
If you stick to these, you can avoid articles/info that are misleading and low in quality. You’ll also want to steer clear of clickbait articles that are made to grab your attention with sensationalist headlines that have no real substance to them. These often try to get an emotional reaction from you instead of providing factual information.
Look for sources that back up their claims with verified facts and don’t waste your time on sites that push exaggerated stories or don’t have proper citations.
2. Use Filtering Tools
Use the right tools to stay organized and make sure you don’t get overloaded with information.
RSS feeds are a great way to follow your favorite websites and blogs without having to rely on algorithms. They allow you to gather new articles from trusted sources in one place and instead of being overwhelmed, you stay informed – which was your goal in the first place.
Pocket, Feedly, or Flipboard are some tools you can use to manage the information you find online. They let you collect and categorize articles by interest and help you focus on what’s important and what you really want to see.
On social media, networks like X and Reddit have filters and lists you can use to organize your feed so you’re only presented with what’s relevant.
3. Niche Services for Specialized Information
For information that’s more specialized, you’ll want to explore some trustworthy (but niche) decentralized networks such as the Usenet service.
Usenet has been around since the 80s and it offers valuable discussions on a wide range of topics. The Big 8 newsgroups are particularly known for organized discussions where experts and enthusiasts can have deep conversations on specific topics.
It’s decentralized, so it works independently of algorithms, and you get conversations that are more organic without the influence of big tech networks. It’s also a very safe, encrypted service, protected from any third-party interference.
Practical Tips for Handling Information Overload
If you want to manage information overload (and you absolutely do!), set clear goals about what you want to see. Define what you want to learn or stay informed about so you can be focused and have fewer distractions.
For example, if you’re researching climate change, stick to a few high-authority sources instead of scrolling through social media. Another helpful thing is to limit the time you spend consuming news.
Set a daily or weekly limit and use apps that track screen time. You could also practice active reading and listening; take notes, ask questions, and check all facts to understand what you’re reading better, and to retain it.
Of course, critical thinking is a priority. Always question how credible the information is, cross-check facts, and make sure to differentiate between opinions and factual reports.
Conclusion
The world is overflowing with information and you must control how you consume it.
Focus only on trusted sources, use tools to organize what you see and don’t forget to explore niche services like Usenet. They can be a breath of fresh air.
If you can filter through the noise and get reliable information, you’ll stay up to date, but without being overwhelmed.
Stay informed!
