4: Humans don’t have the processing power to make sense of all the information on the internet, so don’t be ashamed of that. Curiosity is a form of benevolence, and sometimes that’s enough.
The news cycle has become shorter with the rise of short form content. People post reactive comments with heightened emotions to meddle in something before it goes away, so the information shared often lacks context and nuance. Naturally, this makes almost everyone feel overwhelmed.
Intentionally seeking out reliable sources, setting limits on how you consume information, and strengthening your intuition will allow you to form opinions with confidence.
For topics that you don’t know well, know that you have the potential to be more easily manipulated by engaging speakers, passionate posters, etc. It’s best to avoid these types of people online as much as possible, as you should never come to conclusions based solely on their ideas. It’s important to be as intentional about who and what you surround yourself with online as you would be offline.
Look for ones that don’t blur the lines between objective and subjective coverage of a topic, and are rather rigorous about distinguishing the two. People who cite their sources, contemplate the very ideas of those they oppose, and thoroughly analyze topics based on a body of evidence.
I’ve found Twitter and YouTube to be the best platforms for organizing your watchlist around trusted sources like experts, journalists, and those who dedicate their careers to specific topics. Hearing from different trusted sources will help you gain a holistic view of the topics that interest you and give you the confidence to form your own opinion.
For some, referring to the comments section while processing an information is part of their routine. When people browse comment sections, they tend to disregard the general demographics of the platform they’re on, personal backgrounds of commenters, and other information that would be helpful in assessing the validity of their point of view. Instead, people take the comment at face value.
While finding reliable sources is important, so is setting boundaries. Be willing to process the information fully and take a moment to reflect before checking out the comments or replies section.
Yes, comments can be helpful in broadening your view of the world, but the sheer amount of them online becomes debilitating. Your personal experiences are valuable, and it’s important to prioritize your intuition.
Take a step back and ground yourself in how we make sense of information outside of the internet. The younger you are, I understand the more difficult it is. Sometimes it feels like our internet connection has become an extension of our brain activity.
But we’re not wired to process that much information, and trying to do so is increasingly causing many people like you to desensitize and adopt a “well” mindset.
The internet still has great educational and social value, but as platforms create more of a restful experience based on recommendation algorithms and bottomless streams, it’s important to make your personal corner of the internet mind-nutritious.
By bringing intent back into your user experience, you’ll still be thought-challenged, but with more humanity involved. This will only strengthen your intuition, and therefore your confidence in your own opinion, over time.
