The Importance of Quality Content Consumption
- Lay Jordan
- May 5
- 7 min read
You're lying in bed, mindlessly scrolling through your phone. Hours have passed (maybe 2… maybe 6? It all kinda blurs together, I suppose), and despite consuming hundreds of posts, you can barely remember what you've read. Sound familiar?
A Little Atypical, Episode 45, focused on the numerous mental health challenges in the digital content landscape, examining potential triggers from different content creator archetypes, strategies for protecting our mental well-being as consumers, factors contributing to creator burnout, and practical suggestions for maintaining mental health in the online space.
I wanted to look at the more negative aspects of social media to see if I can help tackle on of the biggest problems about the digital world. We are bombarded with negative things because the things that prompt people's emotional state (no matter the type) will always lead to “virality”. Before continuing, I highly recommend listening to the episode using one of the links below to get the full context and insights about mental health challenges and potential solutions in digital content.
Episode No. 45
Where to listen:
However, something that I didn’t get to directly cover is how the quality of content also contributes to negative elements of the digital space. The rise of shallow content isn't just about mental health impacts - it's fundamentally changing how we process and retain information. When content is designed purely for quick consumption rather than understanding, it creates a cycle of superficial engagement that can be hard to break. This approach to content consumption leaves us feeling mentally undernourished, despite spending hours consuming information.
My friend and I first spoke about content farms during our mini-catch-up. Content farms are organizations or websites that mass-produce low-quality digital content specifically designed to rank well in search engines and generate advertising revenue. When she was telling me about it, I initially thought it was just AI-generated channels that post daily, but she explained it was a lot more.
According to Creatorhandbook.net, “A content farm is a type of media company that produces a high volume of low-quality media in order to maximize views and advertising revenue. These companies figure out what search engines like Google and YouTube tend to recommend. Then, they mass produce content designed to generate clicks and engagement — and not much else.”
The invasive influence of shallow content takes a toll on our holistic well-being, manifesting in various concerning ways. Mentally, it diminishes our cognitive capabilities by promoting scattered attention and superficial thinking patterns. Physically, it contributes to increased screen time, poor posture, and disrupted sleep patterns as we mindlessly consume content. Emotionally, it fosters anxiety, FOMO (fear of missing out), and feelings of inadequacy through constant comparison and surface-level connections. In my opinion, in terms of our souls, it depletes our sense of purpose and authentic engagement with life by replacing meaningful experiences with hollow digital interactions, ultimately leaving us feeling disconnected from ourselves and others despite being more "connected" than ever.
References:
https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/our-stories/how-internet-affects-your-brain#:~:text=Since using the internet often,cognitive task for extended times.
https://www.creatorhandbook.net/what-is-a-content-farm-and-why-does-it-matter/
Potential Solutions to Avoid Brain Rot
Content Fasting Challenges: Organize regular "digital depth days" where you completely avoid short-form content and only engage with long-form materials like books or academic papers. I love doing this with my non-fiction books.
Content Creation Exercise: For every piece of shallow content consumed, challenge yourself to create a thoughtful response or analysis, forcing deeper engagement with the material. For instance, when you get to the messy side of social media where there is roommate drama or something, you can make a response that relates to influences of environment, human behavior, communication, and other forms of studies.
Reverse Scrolling: Start from the bottom of articles or content feeds and work your way up, disrupting the typical consumption pattern and forcing more intentional reading.
Deep Discussion Circles: Form small online groups where members must share and thoroughly discuss one piece of content weekly, rather than skimming multiple pieces. This idea was basically inspired by how my online classes in college functioned, but it is also another example of a book club. However, instead of just books, the content has variety.
Content Quality Journaling: Keep a log rating the depth and value of content consumed, helping identify and eliminate low-quality sources from your regular rotation.
Time-to-Value Ratio: For every piece of content, spend at least twice as long reflecting on it as you did consuming it. If you can't, it might be too shallow.
The Role of Content Creators
Content creators can contribute to positive change by:
Prioritizing quality over quantity in content production
Providing well-researched, thoughtful analysis rather than surface-level observations
Creating content that encourages critical thinking and deeper engagement
Being transparent about sources and research methods
A Note on Discussing Content Quality as a Creator
As a smaller content creator, I've hesitated to address these issues, fearing I might be perceived as judgmental or elitist. The common refrain "it's not that deep" often surfaces when discussing content quality, suggesting that analyzing digital content too critically is unnecessary.
However, this perspective overlooks a crucial truth: even content primarily meant to entertain carries inherent messages and influences how we perceive the world. When we dismiss the impact of content by saying "it's not that deep," we inadvertently contribute to a culture that normalizes shallow engagement and diminishes critical thinking.
The goal isn't to condemn light entertainment or casual content - these have their place to have a balanced digital diet. It's to recognize that all content, regardless of its primary purpose, shapes our thinking patterns and worldview. When we consistently consume and create content without depth or intention, we risk altering our ability to engage deeply with ideas and with each other.
This isn't about being a "hater" - it's about being mindful of how digital content influences us and our social development collectively. As creators and consumers, we have a shared responsibility to maintain a healthy balance between entertainment and enrichment, ensuring that our digital spaces foster both enjoyment and growth.
I hope you enjoyed this post and found it interesting. Also, if you like my content, it would mean the world to me if you would also subscribe to my YouTube channel, my Pinterest, and my TikTok account. On YouTube, I have the most inspirational content from Lifestyle Design posts to Digital "open when..." letters to boost your mood. I also keep a copy of my podcast episodes (which is also available on Spotify). I decided that I am honoring what feels right to me and continuously working on building the life of my dreams and helping others do the same. Don’t forget to share this if you feel inspired, and I will have more content for you soon.
Until next time, butterflies 🦋 Sincerely yours
Xoxo,
Lay 💋
Episode Description:
Ready to detox your digital life? 🌱 In this mindful tech guide, we're diving deep into the art of intentional online living. Whether you're a content creator feeling burnout or someone looking to make social media work for (not against) you, we've got game-changing strategies to help you thrive in the digital age. Let's transform your online experience from overwhelming to empowering! ✨
Key Topics Covered:
Creating content sustainably while safeguarding your mental health
Practical ways to manage information overload
Fostering genuine connections in online communities
Understanding creator types and their influence
Setting healthy digital boundaries
Plus: Special card reading
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Check out my blog post www.SimplyLay.com
Music by Remil - Evening Tea - https://thmatc.co/?l=DFECB5D4
Section | Timestamp | Notes |
Introduction |
Stay tuned for an in-depth exploration of each content archetype and their potential emotional triggers... | |
Understanding Content Creator Archetypes: Impact on Mental Health | 02:39 | Deep dive into 8 distinct content creator personalities and how they might affect your digital wellbeing.
Perfect for: Content creators, digital marketers, mental health advocates, and anyone looking to build a healthier relationship with social media. |
Managing Digital Well-being: Essential Guide | 21:04 |
Perfect for: Digital professionals, social media users, mental health advocates, and anyone seeking a healthier relationship with technology. |
Content Creator Mental Health Guide | 27:24 |
Perfect for: Content creators, digital entrepreneurs, social media managers, and anyone building an online presence while prioritizing mental health. |
Card Pull | 34:43 | Star-seed deck by Rebecca Campbell
|
What I'm grateful for | 38:50 | On TikTok, my favorite author liked and reposted one of my videos. |
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