The Needle in the Haystack: How Information Overload Is Impacting Society and Our Search for Truth

Introduction

In a post-truth world, information is being exchanged at a greater rate and in greater quantities than in previous generations. It is estimated that we now have access to five times more information than we did in 1986 (Hilbert & Lopez, 2011). This increase in information sharing is impacting individuals in both their personal and professional lives, across domains from academia to private sector organizations. While having an increase of information at our disposal can be a strength in our society, it can also be a burden; individuals and organizations can experience difficulty absorbing this proliferation of content, which, in turn, can lead to experiencing information overload. Information overload is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “exposure to or provision of too much information or data.” Information overload is something an individual or organization experiences, and therefore it is a subjective experience based on the individual or organization’s preferences. Information overload feels like a modern phenomenon, however, there have always been historical concerns regarding the quantity of information available to the world. Today, information overload has been exacerbated by the increase and exponential impact of information technology. In a review of worldwide Google Trends, the word “information overload” reached peak popularity in early 2004, shortly after Google trending began, followed by another peak in October 2005. Subsequently, the term decreased in overall popularity but has never completely faded away; it has remained around a score of 25 for the past few years, demonstrating constant concern about information overload in the modern world (Figure 1). When people receive more information than can be absorbed, a multitude of different consequences occur; this overload negatively impacts productivity, decision-making, and progress, and causes anxiety, stress, and despondency. Information overload can also trigger a degradation of clear thinking which, in turn, further impacts our ability to absorb information, retain it, and pass on accurate information. The production and reproduction of information has long caused concerns about its accuracy, its truth, and its inherent value. In this chapter, the author will discuss the history of information overload, the impacts of information overload on our society, and some suggestions as to what can be done to tackle information overload in an attempt to preserve truth, accuracy, and our ability to interpret information.

Figure 1.

Google Trend for the search term ‘information overload’ from 2004 to present

Source: (Google 2014-Present)