We are all part of history. Many of the challenges and opportunities we encounter are shaped not by our personal decisions or the government we live under, but by the unique era of human history we inhabit.
Take the Industrial Revolution, for instance. It created chances for certain types of business success, enriching some while exploiting others. If you had known that was the name of your time, it would have helped you anticipate what to expect. So, I propose a name for our current era: the Information Crisis.
This isn’t a brief moment but an ongoing period that we’re already in and will continue throughout our lives. I believe this is the third major information crisis humanity has faced, following the invention of writing and the Gutenberg printing press. Now, digital communication technology is driving this crisis. These extended crises aren’t just neutral technological advances; they transform us psychologically and socially in deep, irreversible ways.
Looking back at the previous information crises, we see they brought huge leaps in knowledge and understanding, but also times of great instability. After writing was invented, the world saw new, beautiful ideas and moralities emerge, along with new ways to misunderstand each other—misreading texts and wars over differing interpretations became possible. The printing press led to the Enlightenment and a surge in scientific discovery, but before that, Europe experienced the Reformation, which destroyed statues, artworks, and institutions that had been functioning adequately. Crucially, the Reformation resulted in many people being burned at the stake or killed in other horrific ways.
When I mention “burning at the stake,” I’m not just referring to the literal act but using it as a metaphor for the extreme actions people take during ideological conflicts—actions that contradict the values they claim to uphold. It’s about reducing a living person to a symbol and treating them with cruelty to prove a point. This isn’t about mature debate or protesting policies; it’s about behaviors that degrade your humanity when you inflict them on others. It’s when the urge to win an argument overrides all your other principles. There is never a justification for burning someone at the stake.
I think it’s undeniable that the only way to eliminate all opposing views is through unspeakable human rights atrocities—and even that doesn’t work, as both Catholics and Protestants still exist today.
We can already observe how such behaviors become more frequent during an information crisis because we’re in one now. We’re inundated and overwhelmed by information, lacking the social and informational structures to handle it effectively. I suggest that this flood of information makes us anxious and angry.
How? All this information exposes us to everything we don’t know and highlights our lack of expertise. You might share an idea online that’s common in your social circle, only to be attacked by dozens of people who know more and label your views as stupid, outdated, or prejudiced. If this happens to you, it can leave you feeling deeply unsettled.Feeling unsettled, frightened, and out of touch might actually be a good thing, but it can also be emotionally destabilizing. The reverse is true as well: when we’re exposed to everyone else’s opinions, we might discover that someone we admired holds views we consider foolish, outdated, or prejudiced. This is the “I used to like Uncle Bob until I saw his Facebook posts” syndrome. It leaves us questioning who to trust and whether we’re surrounded by upsetting idiots, leading to feelings of isolation, misunderstanding, lack of support, fear, worry, and anger.
This is likely similar to how people in Reformation Europe felt upon learning that their neighbor had a drastically different view on whether the sacrament’s bread and wine were truly the body and blood of Christ. Unfortunately, we can expect this situation to worsen before it improves. However, there are tools and strategies to help us navigate the current information crisis and better cope with our era.
1. Find a fact-checker you trust
Just as during the print revolution in early modern Europe, accessing scientific information is now incredibly easy. In seconds, I can watch a video explaining particle physics, chemical bonds, or how vaccines work. At the same time, it’s just as simple to find convincing but entirely false information, such as claims that vaccines are harmful or proposing solutions I’d rather not mention.
Unlike those in the print era, we have sophisticated and reliable information networks that remain robust. The BBC offers a solid fact-checking service, and Snopes and PolitiFact are also trustworthy. It’s worth getting to know these and others. Fact-checking is a specialized skill, though, and it’s becoming tougher as fakes grow more convincing.
2. Notice how you feel before sharing information
I’ve shared false information on social media before, and it’s embarrassing. The temptation is to defend the mistake and insist there’s some truth to it, even when there isn’t.
Now, I pay attention to my emotions before posting. If I feel a strong reaction—like glee over a tweet supposedly from Donald Trump saying the president should be impeached if the Dow drops 1,000 points, or horror at something awful others are doing—that’s my cue to slow down and verify. If it feels perfectly tailored to push my buttons, it’s a sign to check the facts.
3. Resist the urge to shame others online
We need new social norms to survive this crisis. One is to pause online when feeling strong emotions and wanting to repost; another is how to respond when someone shares something false. Don’t embarrass them publicly—it could happen to you too. Consider how you’d want to be approached: a private, supportive message. Text communication lacks the nuances of speech, making it easy to alienate others. A lighthearted comment like, “That made me laugh, but I’m not sure it’s true?” might help. Getting through this may involve avoiding public shaming and fostering understanding instead.4. Give institutions the benefit of the doubt
Trustworthy institutions that provide accurate information are especially vulnerable when they make mistakes, as all systems inevitably do. What matters is how they respond: promptly acknowledging errors, avoiding defensiveness, investigating the cause, and improving processes to prevent recurrence. This is the ideal approach.
Even with such a system, during an information crisis, many will seize on errors or misconduct by a single member to discredit an entire organization that acts in good faith. So, which institutions are we quick to condemn entirely due to occasional failures? And which large, well-intentioned but imperfect organizations might certain authorities target to dismantle, either to eliminate rival voices or for financial gain?
5. Try not to ‘hate read’
The internet lets us easily find opinions that either delight or infuriate us—and outrage can be its own form of pleasure. “Hate reading” allows us to feel superior by focusing on views we consider foolish or wrong. This tendency, fueled by the web, encourages us to either seek out affirming perspectives or the most extreme opposing ones.
In every information crisis, we risk isolating ourselves in echo chambers that reinforce our beliefs, losing sight of shared reality. Once that common ground is gone, it becomes easier to dehumanize those who disagree with us, seeing them as less than human.
6. Recognize humanity
This means not reducing people to symbols or stereotypes. Instead of assuming others are foolish or malicious, consider that most are thoughtful individuals with valid reasons for their views, with whom we could have civil discussions and find common ground. Acknowledging this might seem idealistic, but the perception that everyone around us is unreasonable is a sign we’re already deep in an information crisis.
7. Ignore the opinions of others
If you recognize that modern communication technologies contribute to the tension in debates, it may help you step back and avoid reacting angrily to disagreements, whether online or in person. After much reflection, I’ve learned to take people’s emotions seriously but rarely their opinions. Everyone has an opinion, but unless they’re an expert, it’s unwise to give those views too much weight.
8. Use your smartphone judiciously
A smartphone designed with your well-being in mind wouldn’t ask you to track your mental health through it—avoid doing that at all costs—or send passive-aggressive screen time alerts. Instead, it would encourage you to disable certain apps in the evening, prompt you to turn it off for several hours daily, and operate on the principle that your life is generally better when you’re not constantly engaged with it.Spending all day staring at a screen is something we should try to avoid. Since smartphones don’t help with that, we need to be cautious with them—or even consider getting rid of them, as many people are doing.
9. Limit social media
Ideally, social media apps would make it simple to avoid content you don’t want to see. You could easily create a “whitelist” of accounts, topics, or types of content you enjoy. If these platforms were designed with users’ well-being in mind, you could specify, for example, that you only want to see friends’ photos of their families, pets, recipes, or career updates—without being exposed to their political views. We’re in a time when tensions run high, and it’s okay to protect your relationships by engaging with politics only when you choose to.
Also, make an effort to see people face-to-face. Relying on technology for connection instead of in-person interactions can increase feelings of loneliness. If you feel more isolated now than a few years ago, technology might be part of the reason. Remember that loneliness isn’t necessarily your fault; it’s a characteristic of our times. Reach out and arrange to meet someone—your friends will appreciate it.
10. Don’t cut children off completely
Some online services offer whitelisting for kids’ versions but not for adults, which is problematic for everyone. This creates a sharp divide: under a certain age, children see only limited, child-friendly content, but once they reach that age, they’re suddenly exposed to everything the internet has to offer, including its worst aspects. This limits children’s access to entertainment and cultural experiences—if they depend on a parent’s smartphone, how can they explore music or radio on their own? It also removes the opportunity for parents to gradually introduce more mature content as their child grows. The idea of “protecting the children” isn’t the right approach here; we all need technology that allows us to manage our own experiences.
11. Advocate for better laws
While some of these issues would exist without tech companies, many are making them worse. We need laws that give us control over our smartphones and social media, enabling us to decide what we see and when. We deserve technology that safeguards our well-being and our children’s—countries should collaborate on new regulations to hold tech companies accountable.
12. Avoid pointless arguments
On Bluesky, I have a note in my profile reminding myself that avoiding pointless online arguments is a revolutionary act. It keeps me in check. Sometimes I’m tempted to engage, and occasionally someone calls me out, making me realize I’ve strayed from my values.
I’ve set a personal rule: never discuss culture-war topics with someone who only wants to talk about that. These conversations are only productive within the context of a relationship. If you approach a difficult topic with a stranger, you won’t see each other as people—just as opposing viewpoints.
Ultimately, don’t let the worst actions of “the other side” lower your own standards. Don’t treat people…Treat ideas as symbols. Remember that when reasonable people disagree, there may be valuable insights on both sides—even if it’s just the truth of what we now call “lived experience.” Today, don’t try to get anyone fired. Don’t insult or belittle someone. Don’t spend your day digging through years of someone’s social media to unearth the worst thing they’ve ever said. Above all, don’t burn anyone at the stake today.
“Don’t Burn Anyone at the Stake Today (and Other Lessons from History About Living Through an Information Crisis)” by Naomi Alderman is published by Fig Tree (£16.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful FAQs about the topic Dont argue with strangers and 11 more tips for navigating information overload
General Beginner Questions
1 What is information overload
Its the feeling of being overwhelmed by the vast amount of information we encounter daily from news social media emails and messages making it hard to focus and decide whats important
2 Why is it a bad idea to argue with strangers online
Online arguments with strangers are rarely productive They often increase your stress waste your time and energy and rarely lead to a changed opinion Its better to conserve your energy for meaningful conversations
3 What are the main benefits of managing information overload
Youll feel less stressed and anxious be able to focus better make decisions more easily and have more free time and mental energy for things you truly enjoy
4 I feel overwhelmed just starting Whats the first step I should take
Start small Choose one source of overload and mute or unfollow it for a day This small win will build your confidence to make bigger changes
Practical Tips HowTo Questions
5 How can I tell if a source of information is reliable
Check the sources reputation look for citations and evidence see if other credible sources are reporting the same thing and be wary of emotional language or headlines designed to provoke a strong reaction
6 What does curate your feed actually mean
It means actively shaping your social media and news feeds by following accounts that educate and inspire you and muting or unfollowing those that cause stress spread misinformation or waste your time
7 Can you give me an example of a digital boundary
A simple digital boundary is setting a specific time each day to check news or social media and not looking at it outside of that time Another is turning off all nonessential notifications on your phone
8 Whats a good alternative to arguing with someone online
If you disagree with a post simply scroll past If you feel strongly send a private respectful message to the person if you know them Otherwise disengaging is the most powerful and peaceful choice
Advanced Deeper Questions
