Information overload: how we know everything and nothing

Ah, the 24-hour news cycle. The modern marvel that has brought us endless coverage of everything from natural disasters to celebrity gossip to political scandals. Information is quite literally at our fingertips. With just a few taps and clicks, we can access a seemingly infinite stream of breaking news stories, social media posts and opinion pieces.

Since the dawn of civilisation, humans have sought to document and share information. From clay tablets to the internet, the methods of information sharing have evolved dramatically. Today, we generate an astonishing 328.77 billion gigabytes of data every day (Taylor, 2022). The printing press, the radio, and other communication technologies all played a role in the rise of the modern information age. However, it was the advent of cable television that truly transformed the way we consume and share information. This demand for fast, instant access to news and updates fuelled the rise of online news and social media, creating a digital landscape that is vastly different from the day-by-day pace of printed newspapers.

As much as we love to stay informed in an increasingly globalised world, is it really doing us any good? In fact, could it be doing more harm than good? When researching for this article, simply entering 'information overload' into the Google search engine produced about 234,000,000 results in 0.57 seconds. Quite literally, I was information overloaded. But aside from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and fatigued from the constant bombardment of news, the risk of drowning out underrepresented voices grows exponentially. In a world where algorithms prioritise clicks and sensationalism over substance and nuanced reporting, it is easy for authentic stories and perspectives to be buried in the sea of noise.

Inequities and disparities caused by information overload can be traced back to antiquity (Blair, 2014). At that time, all sources of information were restricted to manuscripts. The scarcity of manuscripts due to their limited copies meant that the attainment and sharing of information, knowledge and connectedness were only limited to the elite. The invention of the printing press broke down this barrier, driving the proliferation of books and allowing more people to gain access (Blair, 2010).

Whilst the digital age has brought its own set of challenges, the issues of the past are always reflected in the present. This explosion of technological advancement has created an inequitable divide between the world’s connected and unconnected populations. Internet adoption rates are highest in first world countries, particularly Western countries, where 99.0% of the population in Norway, 98.1% in the United Kingdom, 95.9% in Australia, and 91.8% in the USA have access to it (Kemp, 2023). Not by coincidence, these countries are also home to the world's largest multinational media corporations such as Comcast, Walt Disney and Fox (Levy, 2023). It is unsurprising that war-torn countries, which represent some of the most marginalised and impoverished communities, have some of the lowest proportions of internet adoption. In Somalia, only 9.8% of the population has access to the internet, while in Afghanistan, the figure is 18.4%, and in Syria, it is 35.8% (Kemp, 2023). Due to the largest media conglomerates residing in the Western world, they possess substantial power in dictating the content that is shared globally. Coupled with limited access in many third-world countries, it suppresses authentic voices from the regions that need to be heard the most. In the worst-case scenario, these voices never touch our eyes and ears and are simply forgotten.

In the case of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, Western media were more interested in prioritising coverage of the US military withdrawal, the failed military operation, and the increasing political tensions with China, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, due to their allyship with the Taliban. Meanwhile, the plight of local populations, such as the restriction on women's freedom to leave their homes and enjoy a simple activity like walking in the park, or the prohibition of playing music in public spaces (Meltzer, 2023), were given short shrift. Alarmingly, despite the issue's significance, many news outlets, especially those owned by transnational corporations, have seemingly relegated Afghanistan to the back burner in favour of more attention-grabbing stories such as the next celebrity court trial or political scandal. It is troubling to think that something as critical as a Taliban resurgence can be eventually drowned out by other news with a lack of updates, and it is becoming a worrying trend.

Ask yourself. Have you recently heard an update about the aftermath of a natural disaster such as the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria or a political revolution, such as the pro-democracy movement in Iran? The trend seems to be that once the 'breaking news' period is over, these stories are completely forgotten, and their impact on the people involved is often neglected. Ukrainians even fear that as international media coverage wanes, so will support from the West regarding the Russian invasion (Sabbagh 2022). While it is understandable that the media is a profit-driven industry that relies on audience engagement, the human element behind every news story must not be overlooked. This speaks to a larger issue of how the 24-hour news cycle prioritises certain stories and communities over others, and how larger media corporations overshadow small, independent companies that prioritise serious, nuanced reporting and diverse voices.

Unfortunately, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution to the neglect of marginalised and authentic voices through information overload. However, there are steps we can take that set us down the path to creating a more equitable media landscape. This includes championing the responsibility as a global citizen to be personally aware of how many news items will fade into the background once they are no longer breaking news. Take the initiative and follow up on those news headlines by seeking out independent and freelancing journalists who are passionate about and committed to providing bona fide content and coverage from the front lines, not a newsroom an ocean away. It is time to move beyond the 24-hour news cycle and the time to act is now.