Study finds that ‘information overload’ doesn’t bother most people
A study by Northwestern University’s Eszter Hargittai and two associates found that all the information available these days “seems to make most people feel empowered and enthusiastic” and that they appreciate having a variety of news and information sources.
“There’s definitely some frustration with the quality of some of the information available,” says Hargittai. “But these frustrations were accompanied by enthusiasm and excitement on a more general level about overall media choices.”
Few of the research participants mentioned feeling overwhelmed or suffering ‘information overload.’”
Some of the study’s findings:
* Participants had near-unanimous enthusiasm about the new media environment
* Online news was regarded more positively than TV news
* Cable news was often criticized for its sensationalism and stream of repetitive stories
* Trivial social media posts and opinionated political pundits are top sources of frustration when seeking information
* Information overload? Study finds most Americans like it (northwestern.edu)
* Abstract: Perceptions of Information Overload in the American Home (indiana.edu)
