Understanding information overload requires recognizing its core purpose: to influence ourselves and others. Central to this is the concept that influence is a key component of happiness. This drive for influence underpins technology too. Take Edison’s light bulb; its aim wasn’t just to light up a room, but to change human behavior by extending productive hours into the night.

The volume of information is irrelevant. Feeling overwhelmed by information isn’t about its abundance, but rather our approach to attracting, managing, and utilizing it to influence others. Whether we have access to vast amounts of data or a limited amount, it’s the way we engage with this information that dictates our sense of overload.

Consider profiling and categorization attempts, like Amazon’s recommendation algorithm. It can seem one-dimensional, often missing the nuances of our interests. For instance, my purchase history of business books and kitchen utensils leads to a...