The information system is not designed to keep us well informed with the least possible effort, but to hold our attention. Information is a business and, like any business, it needs consumers. That is why the importance of a news story has become confused with its timeliness, as if everything that has just happened deserves our attention. Repetition creates a false sense of importance. The same event can dominate headlines for days without adding anything new. Social media amplifies this dynamic because emotions generate reactions, and reactions keep the business going.

Most news requires no action on our part. We read, worry, argue and move on, while our attention remains scattered across events over which we have little influence. Being informed does not mean knowing everything that happens, but understanding what can help us make better decisions. I have spent years without following the news, and I have not noticed my life getting any worse because of it. Perhaps the problem is not being uninformed, but having accepted that we must pay attention to everything. Useful information should help us live better, not occupy our time simply because it exists.