The Age of Endless Gluttony
Information that leads us nowhere.
“You are what you eat” - Brillat-Savarin
The infinite pursuit of indulgence, the more it is sought, the further it recedes. Like a ravenous flame, it consumes without discrimination, leaving behind only the ashes of regret. Then one day, one becomes a prisoner to desire, blind to the richness of moderation and the simple joys that true contentment brings.
Seems familiar, isn’t it?
We are talking about the Gluttony. Like our civilization it too had been evolving with us. It is no longer one of the deadly sins, it is perhaps our own damnation staring at us while we drift away further and further from the reality. We certainly are talking about the doomscrolling.
In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement and the omnipresence of digital media, the phenomenon of consuming vast amounts of content—often devoid of substantive value—has become a defining aspect of modern life. This "endless gluttony" for information, particularly in the form of meaningless content, is reshaping our cognitive processes, societal interactions, and cultural understandings. The rise of the internet has transformed how we access and engage with information. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as of 2023, approximately 5 billion people are internet users, representing over 65% of the global population. This connectivity has led to an explosion of content creation and consumption.
Almost all of us know there are far more addictive, manipulative, meaningless content floating around the internet than the valuable and good ones. This is because like every virtue creativity too has its limitations. A creator creates when her inherent impulse cannot express otherwise and certainly a good creator do not create something for the sake of creating. Futile content encompasses information that lacks depth, relevance, or significance. This includes viral memes, clickbait articles, and superficial social media posts that prioritize entertainment over substance. The rise of algorithms designed to maximize engagement has led to a proliferation of such content, often at the expense of more meaningful discourse. I am not going to bore you with what a meaningless content is and how to find it, I think as a human being we are extremely good at filtering information. But I would like you to stop for a moment and reflect and ask a simple question every time you consume something on the internet,
“Do I really need this information?”
A study published in Cognitive Science found that individuals exposed to high volumes of low-quality information exhibited poorer decision-making abilities and increased stress levels. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the constant notifications and updates from digital devices, which fragment attention and hinder deep thinking. The average attention span has reportedly decreased over the past two decades. Microsoft Corporation in 2015 found that the average human attention span fell from 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds in 2015, shorter than that of a goldfish. This decline can be attributed to the overwhelming influx of information and the addictive nature of digital platforms. But there is more to it. The consumption of low-level content is not merely an individual psychological issue; it has broader cultural implications. The normalization of superficial engagement can lead to a collective decline in cultural literacy and an erosion of shared values. As individuals increasingly engage with meaningless content, they may become disconnected from more substantive cultural narratives. A report by the National Endowment for the Arts found that participation in arts and cultural activities has declined significantly in recent years, coinciding with the rise of digital media consumption. The rise of personalized content algorithms has led to the creation of "filter bubbles," where individuals are exposed only to content that reinforces their existing beliefs. This phenomenon can contribute to societal polarization and a lack of shared understanding. Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble, highlights how algorithm-driven content consumption can create echo chambers that stifle diverse perspectives and critical discourse.
Yes, we are doomed but can we do something about it?
Here are some approaches you already know might be helpful:
- Curate Your Feed: Actively choose to follow accounts and platforms that prioritize quality content over sensationalism.
- Limit Consumption: Set boundaries around digital consumption, such as designated times for social media use or limiting exposure to low-quality content.
- Engage in Critical Reflection: Take time to reflect on the content consumed, questioning its relevance and significance.
- Support Quality Content Creators: Seek out and support creators who prioritize depth and meaningful engagement in their work.
We have a library at our fingertips; you only have to decide which section you'd like to spend your time in. I would like you to re-read the quote in the beginning of this article and ask yourself, what are you eating?
Well that's disheartening. But good to know!