You’re Not a Web Addict, Really?

How a marginal utility curve can help you learn better in consuming online contents

A couple months ago, I read a popular and helpful Medium post Don’t die of consumption, Learn by Writing by Sean Smith. He cautious us in consuming too much content, because none of it sticks.

That is because there’s too much information.

there can be upwards of 10–15 blogs you are told you should read, 200–400 people … that are “must follows” on twitter and the like, a few … regularly scheduled webinars and podcasts, and tons of slideshare decks from conferences

He gave five reasons why it is problematic.

none of it sticks, your filter of signals versus noise dilutes, creative ability of lateral thinking diminishes as you start trying to apply actions only from the database of “what you’ve read”, you stop asking questions, it’s downright addicting

In a nut shell, you are not smarter than you are before consuming so much content. You become stupefied.

In the worst scenario, you might become a content junkie.

Okay, if that scares you and you’re on the way to becoming one, you should seek some help in getting rid of addiction. Here I present a few questions I’ve asked myself to manage my content consuming behavior. I will also explain how marginal utility curve can be applied to improve the effectiveness of learning in consuming contents.

• What is my motivation of consuming content?
• How well has consuming content helped me learn?
• Are there other ways to learn besides consuming it?
• How can I improve the effectiveness of learning by consuming contents?

Like in all the AA meetings, we need to reflect and ask questions to ourselves.

Question 1 — What is your motivation?

First AA meeting is perhaps composed of stories, confessing why one becomes addicted. Think back to our motivation of taking in so much content.

“I am just bored, I wanna watch something fun….”

“I dunno, I have nothing to do…”

“But … I wanted to learn!”

If your response is one of the first two, there’s little of value here. You should close this tab. This post does not deride the need for entertainment. Neither is it entertaining.

But if you have some aspiration of learning in consuming different kinds of contents and following so many twitter personas, this article might be useful.

Indeed, we need to constantly learn by absorbing news and keeping ourselves updated. I’m a firm believer of being an insatiable learner.

Question 2 — How well has consuming content helped you learn?

So you are motivated by the desire to learn, that’s great!

The concept of marginal utility describes the relationship between how much you learn and how much you consume quite well. Total utility/satisfaction starts to decline after a certain quantity of content.

Yes, the first few articles that teach us how to do digital marketing are useful. But as we read more, they more or less are the same.

The first TED talks are inspiring and eye-opening, but as we watch too many in a session, we become lost. After 1.5 hour (approximately 5 TED talks), you don’t necessarily remember more points than you were an hour ago.

Just like eating AYCE KBBQ, there’s no need to over-consume. You’re pretty happy after 3 rounds of meat. Don’t over-stuff yourself.

So reflect upon yourself, track where the marginal utility starts to approach zero, then you’ll know how much time, how many articles you should read.

Learn to Say No!

Question 3 — Are there other ways to learn, besides consuming contents?

Yes, learn by producing your own content.

Sean Smith’s Don’t Die of Consumption, Learn by Writing makes a good case of learning by writing. He even goes into neuroscience, explaining how humans memorize at neuron level, for the bio people and pre-med fellows out there.

After you write it, you can actually show that you have learned the stuff. That’s what I, as a non-technical person, can build. And likely the only thing for now..

Besides writing, there are so many ways to tell a story or share your learning, including compiling photos into a collage, making a slideshow, designing an infographics, drawing a comic, producing a meme, or doodling on a post-it.

So, share and learn by producing your own contents.

Questions 4 — How to improve my effectiveness of learning by consuming? Can I move my utility curve?

My previous points do not nullify the value and the need of consuming content. Consuming and absorbing are still valuable. But the methods of consumption can be improved.

Remember that utility curve? What if I can move it? The best way would be to move it upward and rightward. Then, you get more out of consuming content and can consume more before witnessing a decline.

I’ve adopted a few ways to improve my actual learning when I consume contents.

1. Read related contents in one session
2. Have a specific learning objective before reading (or other ways of consuming) contents
3. Set specific time for a reading session
4. Set aside specific amount of time for aimless exploration

Let me explain a bit more

• read related contents in one session

Group articles or tutorials together.

It sticks better. This way you get multiple perspectives in a single session. It’s easier to retain information if you read mechanisms of Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Paypal together than if you read Apple Pay, Rasberry Pi, and gaming design. Well, unless you’re opening an arcade shop with your own built and designed games on Rasberry Pi.

And it keeps you focused. You won’t drift around different interesting, but unrelated articles.

• have a specific learning objective

Know why you’re reading an analysis on apple pay, google wallet and paypal beyond just learning and knowing new information.

You read because you want to learn the pros and cons of different digital payment methods. Or you want to know the number of users on each platform so that you can produce a plot comparison.

If you have a specific objective, you know what questions to ask, what hypothesis to validate, and what information to get out of it when you are reading the articles. And it is easier for you to write and share what you learn with a specific objective.

• set specific time on reading

Constraints lead to creativity and innovation. You’ll be a better reader with time constraint.

Also, deadline is great for procrastinators.

• set aside specific time for aimless exploration

Well, we all need time for entertainment and relaxing time. But set a time, know the difference between reading to learn and reading to relax.

With these four principles, I’ve improved my effectiveness in learning by reading articles. By asking myself four questions whenever I’m consuming contents, I’ve known myself better and reduced my tendency to be a content junkie.