Information-overloaded pizza anyone?

Gone are the days when the encyclopedia salesman used to wait outside doors of potential buyers on a lazy Sunday afternoon when children would look up to parents and teachers for every bit of information.

The zooming speed with which technology has catapulted into every nook and cranny of our lives is unfathomable. With the advent of this fast-changing and advancing technology, one of the most significant things to take place for the Gen Z (the privileged generation born in the hi-tech world)is the ease with which all possible information and knowledge are available to scroll with finger taps. All the answers which were provided by parents, teachers and other caregivers are now easily obtained from peers and the mighty internet/web/artificial intelligence.

The sales of encyclopedias and books are no more the reason for shopping, online or offline. The search results from search engines available online have been optimized and modified for commercial exploitation, the real meaning of the process has been lost to an extent. It is not wrong to think that this is indeed an overload of knowledge and information. The question which arises here is how can this excessive information be filtered to provide the correct and appropriate knowledge, individually customized and applicable in real-life situations. The allegory here is that this information overload is similar to an overloaded pizza.

It is essential to map our requirements with the available resources on the web and social media and be focused. This will further help in time management and generate time for self-care, meditation, yoga and immunity building activities. It will not take long for this information to become augmented information, computer-generated content overlaid in a real-world environment. So, the next time you look up for information, please make sure to customize your "information pizza" according to your taste and health requirement and do not overload it just because that is the trending topic online!!

How can this knowledge be utilized to alter behaviors on the online platform to include kindness and empathy?

To follow-unfollow, like-unlike is the game being played on social media today. By listening to others and following the dictates of crowd mentality, there is more scope for bias and irresponsible actions. If I like a person at one point of time in life, then it is not correct to unlike that person for seemingly non-concrete reasons. This is truly lack of empathy and kindness. This kind of emotional nuclear bombing has become a norm today and this is a cause of concern. The generation born with laptop/mobile available right from coming into this world must be trained on how to use knowledge/technology and precisely apply this. This application of absorbed information must be used for the benefit of self and then extended to others. Parents have to guide children about the misuse of technology, while positively allowing them to expose their little minds gradually and equipped with a positive mindset and kind approach before plunging into the vast online pool.

The different criteria for filtering information can be,

1. Making daily lifestyle easier using many lifestyle hacks available for cleaning, cooking and other essential tasks.

2. Making a positive difference to our lives as well as to others, but paving a clear way for empathy, kindness and a nonjudgmental gentle approach.

3. Obtaining reviews on products, places of travel and work, to make wise personal decisions.

It is essential to map our requirements with the available resources on the web and social media and be focused. This will further help in time management and generate time for self-care, meditation, yoga and immunity building activities. It will not take long for this information to become augmented information, computer-generated content overlaid in a real-world environment. So, the next time you look up for information, please make sure to customize your "information pizza" according to your taste and health requirement and do not overload it just because that is the trending topic online!!