I encountered the word infobesity during chats with one of my best friends who brought up the same when we were discussing about the issues facing our students. The word was catchy and I was curious to know more. As I gathered more information, I was disturbed. What is Infobesity? Infobesity is when a person gets overwhelmed with an overload of information. This makes the concerned person unable to make rational decisions.

The word Infobesity is a blended form of two words: information and obesity. A person who is affected by the same is known to be infobese. My friend was telling me how when she had instructed her class to give presentation about a certain topic, the students were unable to do justice to the presentation. My students were also in the same boat. I had directed them to give a presentation on their favourite OTT Web series by doing a thematic & media analysis and later give a write-up of the same. My intention was to check their presentation and written skills.

Apart from the usual mistakes here and there, the most glaring aspect was the way the students had disseminated their information in both oral and written form. Most of them had not applied their minds in a sense that they did not have their own opinion. They did not go beyond the data they gathered. Some of them did give a fabulous presentation but to analyse the particulars critically was not a priority. Students just regurgitate whatever they came across.

Nowadays, it’s easy to get information at our fingertips. It is essential to process facts and not just gather them. One gets details in bulk from varied sources. He or she must read, scan and shuffle through them. In continuation with this, one must avoid unnecessary facts by including relevant details in both written and oral forms. For all the above activities it is indispensable to allocate and focus time on such endeavours.

The pupils devote their time on television and phones. The hours dedicated to screen time is alarming. Teachers witness a lot of behavioural changes amongst students. Children have become aggressive in their response. Signs of irritability can be seen in them. The undergraduates have it difficult to pay an undivided amount of time and focus on pertinent piece of information. These are the effects of infobesity.

What is the fix for the evils of infobesity? Students must restrict their screen time. They must opt for healthier alternatives. They should be made aware of the changing personality traits. Students should be directed to prioritize and focus on essentials. Development of critical thinking must be developed. They can step back from the daily flood of data.

Sophomores must be encouraged to have their own opinions. They should not be made fun of their failures. Instead, they should be taught how to present their ideas systematically. This encompasses both oral & written forms. Whenever pupils present the facts without applying their minds, teachers must not accept their submissions. Their assignments should be returned. Following this, teachers must point out their mistakes and question their work critically so that learners are guided in the right direction.

Hence, Infobesity is an increasing menace amongst students. We have seen how infobesity stresses them. It is hoped that the concerned stakeholders take note and help students in reaching to a solution. It is interesting to note that infobesity is not just found in students but also amongst adults from various walks of life. This concept is also being researched and startling results are being found.

Penned by – Livea Thekkekara Paul works as an English Lecturer at International School of Management Excellence, a leading private B-school in Bengaluru, India.