Commentary

Digital Overload

According to new 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 Technologies, Journalists, Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Professionals, with 48.5% saying that they where connected to the web:  "from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed."

Connected To The Web

Connecton to the Web

(% of Respondents)

Wake up to bed time

50.3%

9am to  9pm

16.8

Most of the work day

28.0

Source: Magnify.net, April 2011

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."

Increase in Information Flow (vs. Previous Year)

Increase

% of Respondents

None, the same

11.3%

Increased

   20%

24.5

   50%

27.7

   75%

10.1

   Doubled+

26.4

Source: Magnify.net, April 2011

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 date/social occasion           
  •  57.4 % never turn off phone
  • 33.0% check email middle of the night
  • 35.2% answer work emails while with children
  • 46.9% unable to answer all email           
  • 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... "

For additional information and access to the complete PDF file, please visit here  .

 

2 comments about "Digital Overload".
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  1. Joy Whitney from Edison Venture Fund, April 26, 2011 at 9:02 a.m.

    the link to the pdf is missing

  2. Dan Anny from Pixel, May 6, 2011 at 10:31 a.m.

    cool report!
    The same in our country. But we have not the complete report like that

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