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Information Overload and the Art to Disagree

Well, it’s been quite the year already. At the time of this writing, TikTok is set to be banned in the U.S. this weekend, which is sure to impact Canada, Los Angeles is experiencing devasting loss due to fires from high winds and no rainfall, Meta has ended their fact checking, vaccination rates are falling, and researchers are questioning whether ADHD should be seen as a disorder at all.

I’m sure that at least one of these topics brings up some emotions for you, if not all of them. We’re human after all and the status of our environment, public health and communication systems are all areas of importance. But of course, staying informed on all fronts can be a daunting if not a stress inducing task. For centuries scholars have argued that we are inundated with information, but since the rise of digital information, and the speed in which we can access life events around the globe, some researchers believe information overload should be taken more seriously (Bauden & Robinson, 2020).

Since having young children I ebb and flow with my level of staying informed. There are times when I find myself stepping back from all the information that is thrown our way daily. I find it challenging to process and create my own opinions on politics and general social constructs with so much conflicting information thrown around. Plus, people seldomly agree on the criteria for determining issues of value which makes for a decent argument on either side. If I have any sort of viewpoint, I can almost certainly find a place on the internet where my opinions can be justified. The internet, while easy to navigate, cheap, and accessible also has its disadvantages. There’s no quality control, no peer review process, potentially highly biased information or just plain fraudulent in nature.

So, how do we counteract this information overload era? Researchers, David Bawden and Lyn Robinson conclude in their study regarding information overload that “overload may perhaps be best overcome by seeking a mindful balance in consuming information and in finding understanding.” That might look like choosing a few sources you trust, possibly a mix of legacy media, Google Scholar articles, journals and news podcasts. It’s important to think about the media’s potential biases and make note of them. It’s always a good idea to hear a multitude of different perspectives on any given subject. Setting a routine and limiting exposure can also assist in balanced news consumption. With all these things in mind, I think the beauty of where we live is that we are allowed to disagree with opposing views and others are allowed to disagree with us. That’s what makes our country beautiful. That’s what ensures a free and liberated nation.

While we are lucky to have many layers of options when it comes to information, I’d argue nothing in excess serves us well. But news gathering and opinion does matter, so cultivate it as best you can. Julian Simon, author of The Art of Empirical Investigation states that public opinion is civilizations most powerful currency. So much so that he writes, “it starts wars, changes governments, determines which products and services will survive in the marketplace and what will fail.”

Treat your mind to the best platter of information you can find, form your opinions, and allow others to do the same. Being able to disagree is what keeps our home a vibrant and beautiful place to be.

Sources Bawden, D. & Robinson, L. (2020). Information Overload: An Overview. In: Oxford Encyclopedia of Political Decision Making. . Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1360

Simon, Julian Lincoln. The Art of Empirical Investigation. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, c2003

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