Digital Overload

According to The Digital Lifestyle survey by Magnify.net in April, consumers and web surfers are facing a torrent of data growing faster than ever before. 78% of respondents were Technologists, Journalists, Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Professionals, with 48.5% saying that they were connected to the web "from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed."

64.2% said that the information coming at them today had grown by more than 50% compared with last year. 72.7% described their data stream as "a roaring river," "a flood," or a "massive tidal wave."

People are missing important news, information, and appointments; friendships and family suffer, says the report.

• 76.7% read email and respond evenings and weekends
• 43.2% answer texts or emails on dates/social occasions
• 57.4% never turn off their phones
• 33.0% check email in the middle of the night
• 35.2% answer work emails while with children
• 46.9% are unable to answer all emails
• 41.4% miss important news
• 39.9% ignore family and friends
• 16.9% miss appointments
• 62.5% wish they could filter out the flood of data

Steven Rosenbaum, author of Curation Nation, concludes that "... (since) the volume of raw data coming at us has increased more than 50% in the past 12 months...(and) as more digital devices and software services proliferate... data and speed of increase will grow exponentially... (and) will be unsustainable... "

He goes on to suggest that "... algorithmic solutions, better spam filters, smarter search, and more connected devices will fact-expand the problem... (while) human data management, shared and community filtering, and personal recommendations will allow 'content' consumers... (to) consume curated content... (and) surf less... "

(Source: The Center For Media Research, 04/26/11)