Pew Research has released a major study exploring the effects of information overload on peoples' lives. The findings indicate that more people felt that information complicates their lives than felt that they feel overloaded by information. This finding held despite gender, age, ethnicity, income level, educational attainment, etc. The study also found that digital tools help in dealing with information overload. This was supported by 81% of the respondents. On the positive side, 79% felt that information gave them more control over their lives.
There is, however, an indication that there is widespread awareness that some of the information is not reliable. Nevertheless most people (80%) felt that they are able to quickly determine if it is unreliable. It was not clear, however, what criteria those people used to determine whether information is reliable. A study of how people determine this could be quite revealing. We know that false news, unchecked information and unfounded opinion proliferate on the internet. We are not sure what effect this is having on the perceptions and actions of the readers. For a summary of the study, check the Pew website here.
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