Stephanie Hare on Navigating Information Overload and Ethical Tech

Combating Fear-Based News Cycles

• 💡 The speaker discusses how news reporting, particularly in the US, often relies on fear and emotions to keep audiences engaged, impacting their bottom line.
• 📚 Subscribing to physical publications like The Economist is suggested as a way to receive deeper coverage and more thoughtful content compared to ad-supported, engagement-driven online media.

Reclaiming Your Digital Experience

• 🧠 The speaker shares a personal journey to "get their brain back" by intentionally reducing digital distractions.
• 📱 This involves removing apps from the phone and accessing online content through direct website visits rather than curated social media feeds.
• 🚫 A conscious effort is made to stay away from inflammatory content that evokes anger and anxiety, recognizing that constant outrage is detrimental to community problem-solving.

Prioritizing Real-World Connection and Grounded Research

• 📚 Reading books, spending time in libraries, and engaging with people are prioritized over passive digital consumption.
• 🌍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of on-the-ground research, traveling to locations to gather firsthand information rather than relying on potentially biased media portrayals.
• 🤝 Building a network of trusted individuals in various locations helps to verify information and gain a more accurate understanding of events.
• ⚠️ This deliberate approach, though time-consuming and expensive, ensures a grounded perspective amidst information overload and sensationalism.