Content Consumption — Finding Emotional Connect with Groundnuts

It’s 11.30 PM. The husband is busy taking office calls. And I’m busy browsing Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, links on WhatsApp groups, watching videos, documentaries, talk shows. All on my phone.

And every night I think of disconnecting myself from all the digital devices. Of course, had I done that, I wouldn’t be able to publish this post, again, from my phone.

But this post is not about that. It’s about how much information is out there. Yes, I’m not saying anything different from the next person, I know. But I realised that as soon as I keep my phone away, I’m ridden with the Fear of Missing Out and I grab my phone again to check what’s happening out there.

Listicles, long form pieces, analytical pieces, trend stories, investigative stories, philosophical stories, viral stories, “you-won’t-believe-what-happened-next” stories. You name it, social network has it.

That begs the question, why do we need to know so much? What is the obsessive need to read this and that? Why do we get so tempted with click baity headlines? And then why do we get obligated to thrust our opinion about issues where we hardly make a difference? Why can’t we just stick to one thing, and know that one thing well?

You and I know the joy of reading one very good piece amidst all the clutter. With our attention spans taking the hit, finding that one solid piece of content can be extremely satiating, leaving you with a sense of achievement.

Much like these groundnuts. When you’re done devouring everything and all that’s left of it are the shells, you get excited finding that singular hidden shell with the well cooked, slightly salty and juicy groundnuts sitting in it snugly within it.

So the next time you come across a headline, ask not what you can do for the content. Ask what the content can do for you. Ask why should you care. Ask what would you miss out if you don’t read that.

(Inspired by a talk with Akash and a plate full of groundnuts)