I know I’m absolutely overloaded with information.

According to text messaging statistics, adults under age 45, send and receive approximately 85 or more text messages each day!

Plus, the average consumer sends three messages per hour. That comes to a total of 72 messages per day.

And according to the Pew Research Center, 81% of Americans text regularly. Averaging over 6 billion texts being sent every day. Wow!

Most times I’m too busy to respond until well after 6pm to any personal texts or emails. And seldom can I offer a meaningful comment.

And I’m too much of a coward to say to family and friends, “Please stop sending all those text messages and emails. It’s a flood of data I can’t read!”

I’m sure the notion that one can be drowning in data and yet remain uneducated might seem a bit counterintuitive.

But for me the essence of education extends beyond the mere accumulation of all these fact tidbits, pictures of animals, people dancing, faces with new makeup, etc. I’m drowning with facts and data. The internet makes it possible for me to acquire information on almost any subject at my fingertips.

According to the source, Statista - "Data created worldwide from 2010 to 2025,” – the amount of data created globally is projected to reach 149 zettabytes by 2024. I can’t even imagine how to write out that number.

But this just highlights the overwhelming volume of information available to all of us.

And that’s the challenge.

Merely knowing countless pieces of information without the time and ability to sift through and determine their relevance to us can lead to our intellectual chaos!

The sheer volume of data can overwhelm, preventing one from developing any deep understanding and critical thinking.

Remember the last time you read a book from cover to cover? Did you take the time to ponder its meaning in relation to where you are with your life at that moment?

Rote Memorization or Critical Thinking

Education and rote memorization are not the same. Knowing “facts by heart” does not translate into an understanding of the subject matter.

A study published in the journal "Science" found that students who engaged in active learning, such as discussions and problem-solving, performed better than those relying on traditional lecture-based methods.

True or real education involves the ability to analyze, synthesize, and apply knowledge, going beyond the surface-level of fact memorization.

Evolving Knowledge

Our body of knowledge in every field is constantly evolving. What may be considered a fact today could be challenged or revised tomorrow.

Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist, and Nobel laureate stressed the importance of understanding the process of discovery rather than just the facts. Feynman argued that true education involves an appreciation for the scientific method and the ever-changing landscape of knowledge.

Plus, our emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills help us navigate social interaction, communicate effectively, and understand emotions – our own and others.

Sadly, our human connections are disappearing.

We think that by sending endless text messages, emojis, and using TikTok behavior, we’re making human connections. We’re not!

So…

Look up from your phone and smile at someone. Ask a question and wait for an answer.

We are tech engaged but lonely.

Lonely for someone to gaze into our eyes and sympathize as we explain our chaotic day. Lonely for someone to hold our hand as we take an evening stroll in silence. Lonely for someone to be there…just because.

Reach out. Think critically. Connect with a living breathing person.

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