Have you ever heard of information addiction?
It might be a new term for you,
but the behavior is something
you've definitely seen around.
Let me explain with a scenario.
Picture this.
Arun is an IT professional like many of us
Arun starts his day by reaching for his phone
he Scrolls through social media even
takes his phone to the restroom
then it's email WhatsApp
and he's on his way to work
at work he's still scrolling
unable to focus
during lunch he's checking the news
and the cycle continues all day
finally he comes home starts to watch news and reels while eating
and even when he's exhausted
he Scrolls through his phone
until he passes out.
Sounds familiar, right?
It's a common story these days in our daily lives
we are constantly consuming information
either actively or passively
But what's the difference?
Active consumption is when you seek information
that you need or you're interested in
for instance if Arun searches for
information on artificial intelligence to upskill
that's active consumption
Passive consumption on the other hand is
when you stumble upon information
without looking for it
like when you are mindlessly scrolling through social media
Now you might think
what's wrong with knowing more?
Isn't it good to stay informed up to date?
Here's the catch.
Imagine Arun who is passionate about AI
he schedules time to learn about it
searches for videos and intentionally
watches content to improve his skills
that's intentional use of the internet
it is absolutely healthy.
But if he's constantly uncontrollably scrolling
through AI content all day
disrupting his work personal life
and even simple daily chores.
That's unhealthy.
There is a danger that
he will become addicted to information.
Why is this a problem?
Let's dive into some brain science.
When you engage in an activity that interests you
it triggers your brain's reward system
releasing dopamine which makes you feel good.
This is not just limited to alcohol or drugs
you can even become addicted to information
that excites you.
Think about it.
Why do we binge, watch movies and TV shows?
It's to get effortless dopamine hit, right?
The same goes for consuming News, Articles and YouTube videos.
Even if the content is valuable,
it can still give you that addictive dopamine hit.
When consumed in large quantities,
even good things can be harmful.
When you overwork physically, your body gets tired
and it will demand rest.
But when you over consume information and
if your brain gets that dopamine hit from
engaging content it wants to keep going
it will make you repeat the activity
over and over again.
Today's digital world makes information more accessible than ever.
We have the internet social media and 24/7 news Cycles at our fingertips.
But this constant flow of information
has created a compulsive
need to stay connected and informed
often at the expense of our well-being.
It is designed to get us hooked and addicted.
Because of it,
your mental health and overall well-being are at stake.
Constant information overload can lead to
increase stress anxiety and even depression.
It can decrease your focus and productivity.
It will make it harder to complete tasks and enjoy life.
Information feeds us with a desire to
consume more information.
This habit has the potential to become an addiction.
Information addiction is an uncontrollable urge to
consume information negatively
even though it impacts Productivity, Mental Health and
relationships.
How can you escape from information addiction?
We scroll endlessly
because we consume content without a purpose
whether it's for education or entertainment.
Your consumption should be intentional
Have a purpose.
Set a time limit.
Consume the necessary content.
Practice intentional consumption.
