Will You Go on a Digital Diet in 2009?

Ah, 2009, a new year and a new start, including resolutions to improve oneself. Let me guess, you want to save or make more money, lose weight or increase fitness, or manage your time more effectively. You and the rest of us! Let’s talk not about food consumption, instead, let’s talk about your media consumption. And while we’re at it, let’s recognize that we’re all offering media. According to the 2008 Media Report from Future Exploration, everyone’s a media mogul. Especially interesting to me is user-generated content. Participatory media is resulting in a nearly infinite supply of content, although the increased fragmentation of attention is certainly an implication as the report points out. They also think that Pro-Am (professional-amateur) content models will emerge, a model in which I’m very interested.

What’s in the forecast for media trends? Microboredom, facebook fatigue, and digital diets

Now, lest you think I take all this forecasting too seriously, read some of the “Global Risks” floating in the seas around the tentacles. It’s downright risky to take this map too seriously, folks. But let’s look down the media arm of the star fish. Flight to quality, Facebook fatigue, Skimming, Micro boredom, and lastly, Digital diets. I honestly had no idea what “microboredom” is, so I found a definition. But I dedicate this discussion to digital diets – media saturation levels that have to do with information overload.

The ComputerWorld article, Information overload: Is it time for a data diet? says that “According to market research firm IDC, by 2011 the digital universe will be 10 times the size it was in 2006… Some use technology to combat the information overload, while others suggest putting yourself on an information diet and taking control over how much you allow yourself to be exposed to.”

What are the types of digital diets?

One is when a photographer takes pounds off of a person with digital imaging. This is a rather horrible practice since it portrays an impossible body image. Apparently wedding photographers now offer this to brides. Blech, let’s not dwell on that digital diet.

Yet another downsizing is the continual skinny trend in handheld and mobile devices. When Engadget and Gizmodo use terms like “anorexic” to describe a cell phone, be sure that the diet metaphor refers to hardware as well.

Another type of digital diet is a month-long traditional media diet. Similar to the documentary 30 day Super Size Me diet, where Morgan Spurlock ate only at McDonald’s for a month, this journalist decided to try a month without television, newspaper, magazines, or radio in 2006. Interestingly, it didn’t sound like a real hardship or that she had any sense of loss of information. She says, “Because I was relying primarily on digital sources for information, I was always on the watch for useful sites.” As a content creator, how would your site assist digital dieters? Also, as a content consumer, how can you control the information that comes to you rather than getting “sucked in” to the information offered?

How about an attention overhaul

Merlin Mann of 43folders.com has a great, short podcast called “Goin’ on a Media Diet.” He has great ideas in it, such as, make a mindful phone call – don’t drive, walk, fold laundry, or clean the kitchen while talking on the phone. Just talk to the person on the other end and do nothing else.

A similar suggestion – while on a conference call at work, turn off your computer monitor so you aren’t tempted by incoming email messages or instant messages. Really participate in the meeting as if you were sitting at the table with your coworkers in a conference room.

Dial back your intake, reclaiming your attention. Prune your RSS feed reader list. Take some time to assess your information intake and the amount of time you spend with media, and make a media date with yourself so that you make time for the consumption that matters most to you.

What are some other ways you intend to tune up your digital intake in the coming year?