Reducing Information Anxiety: The Power of Summaries and Curated Feeds

Reducing Information Anxiety: The Power of Summaries and Curated Feeds

In today's digital age, we are bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information. From news articles to social media posts, podcasts to videos, the amount of content available to us is growing exponentially each day. However, our time to consume this information remains limited. As a result, we often find ourselves drowning in a sea of unread articles and forgotten links, unable to capitalize on the knowledge that could have shaped our lives.

This is where companies like Joggo come in. Joggo was originally founded as a payments company with a mission to eliminate fees for merchants. However, they soon realized that there was a need for a solution to the information overload problem. Thus, Joggo pivoted to become a platform that provides summaries of long-form content.

The idea behind Joggo is simple yet powerful. They understand that a summary is not meant to replace the content itself, but rather to give the reader an insight into whether they should delve deeper. Summaries also serve as pre-written notes after consuming the full piece of content, jogging one's memory and aiding recall.

However, creating a great summary is not as easy as copying select phrases from the text. It requires a deeper understanding and a human touch. Joggo limits formatting to maintain consistency, allowing users to consume the summary as quickly as possible. They also have a minimum time requirement of five minutes for the content they summarize, as shorter pieces may not provide enough value or quality.

But why do we need summaries in the first place? The answer lies in the problem of information selection and filtering. We are constantly faced with the task of deciding what content to consume and what to ignore. There are two phases to this process: filtering by rough category and filtering by urgency. By providing summaries, Joggo helps users navigate through the vast amount of content available, saving them time and energy.

Furthermore, summaries address the issue of the antilibrary. Many of us accumulate long lists of unread content, saving articles and links for later. However, if we never revisit these saved items, we miss out on potential defining ideas. Summaries allow us to capitalize on the knowledge without overwhelming ourselves with unread articles.

While summaries are undoubtedly useful for information selection and filtering, they may not be sufficient for deepening understanding or creating and connecting ideas. The real value of consuming content comes from the process of reading and interacting with it intensively. Ideas and inspiration are more likely to arise when we engage with the content rather than skim through it.

This raises an interesting question: is it better to read one truly great article or skim through ten random ones? From personal experience, the former tends to yield more ideas and inspiration. However, summaries still play a crucial role in helping us navigate through the vast sea of content.

The power of summaries becomes even more evident when we consider their impact on productivity. If we share a 30-minute read with a 10-person team, we have essentially claimed 300 minutes of productivity. But by sharing a 1-minute summary that captures the key insights, we make all ten people smarter while only taking ten minutes of their collective time. This shows the potential of summaries to maximize efficiency and knowledge sharing.

The need for curated feeds and trusted sources of information is also becoming increasingly important. Traditional media has often been criticized for its partisan nature, with news consumption reflecting political affiliations to an extreme extent. People are now turning to individual creators and curators for a curated feed of information. Brands are being unbundled, and talented individuals are creating their own media brands. Users are willing to pay to support these individuals and receive a curated feed tailored to their interests.

This shift in the media landscape is accompanied by new business models. Startups are moving away from relying solely on advertising and exploring alternatives such as subscriptions, in-app payments, and e-commerce. This allows social media companies to monetize their platforms without inhibiting growth. TikTok, for example, has already demonstrated the potential for social networks to act as gateways to e-commerce.

Looking ahead, the next wave of social media platforms may take inspiration from immersive games and create multifaceted economies. Instead of obsessing over capturing attention, these platforms will focus on providing functional experiences and services. They may even leverage AI to bootstrap new social experiences, blurring the lines between human and artificial people. As humans crave kinship and a sense of belonging, these platforms may offer synthetic friends and loved ones to interact with.

In conclusion, the power of summaries and curated feeds cannot be underestimated in the age of information overload. They serve as valuable tools for information selection and filtering, helping us navigate through the vast sea of content. However, it is important to recognize that the real understanding and insights come from the process of reading and interacting with the content intensively. To make the most of our limited time, we need to strike a balance between consuming summaries for efficiency and engaging with content for deeper understanding and inspiration.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Embrace the power of summaries: Use platforms like Joggo to save time and filter through the vast amount of content available. Summaries provide valuable insights and help you decide which articles to delve into further.

• 2. Engage with content intensively: While summaries are useful for information selection, don't neglect the process of reading and interacting with the content itself. This is where true understanding and inspiration come from.

• 3. Curate your feed: Seek out trusted sources and individual creators who provide curated feeds tailored to your interests. This will help you cut through the noise and stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

In the ever-expanding digital landscape, reducing information anxiety is crucial. By harnessing the power of summaries and curated feeds, we can navigate through the vast sea of content, maximize efficiency, and make the most of our limited time.