Do You Consent to Noise?

Noise represents information one does not want to receive, going beyond just audible sounds. The consent to receive information has long been taken for granted, especially in the digital world, where using tools means implicitly agreeing to any content that comes with them - whether it's graphics, written words, or other media.

Do you want browser pop-up ads, pushed social media videos, or unsolicited news? Did you choose to receive this information? This implicit agreement explains why many digital tools are free - companies profit from selling users' attention to advertisers through unwanted content, making consent to noise the true cost of these services. This trade-off appears even in basic tasks like dictionary searches.

Consider looking up "Fabiform" (meaning "shaped like a bean") in different dictionaries. A physical dictionary's extra information is limited to nearby words like "faber" and "fabel" encountered while searching. An online dictionary provides the same definition but adds unwanted banner ads promoting "50% off" sales or "get now" offers - information completely unrelated to the original search.

These ads and banners represent noise - content that diverts from the original intention. While an ad might offer savings, dictionary users seek definitions, not shopping opportunities. Similarly, social media visits intended for connecting with friends become derailed by random videos and celebrity news.

Physical noise exists but differs fundamentally from digital noise. The physical world's ambient noise - posters, flyers, car honks, advertising slogans, retail displays, and street music - differs from digital noise in three key ways: they aren't personally targeted, they can't be acted on immediately (no 'Buy Now' or 'Click Here' options), and they fade once we leave the space. While a utility pole advertisement quickly fades as new distractions appear, digital noise follows users with persistent, personalized content.

Between information and its receivers, noise is inevitable and subjective; what constitutes noise depends on the receiver's judgment. Digital noise permeates silently, without assaulting eardrums or causing physical discomfort, making it more insidious and difficult to detect. The mind serves as the only defense against digital noise, operating with an obscure threshold for noise tolerance. While ears recognize a siren's blare, noses recoil from foul smells, eyes squint against bright light, and tongues reject the unsavory, the mind remains perpetually bombarded with information, even during sleep.

Training the mind to sense noise requires deliberate recalibration through reduced information exposure. Like physical senses that respond to environmental stimuli, the mind requires periods of quiet to restore noise awareness and redefine thresholds. Practical steps include:

• Creating electronics-free spaces as default, using devices only in designated areas
• Taking daily walks in nature or quiet spaces like libraries and empty cafes
• Practicing regular meditation or breathing exercises
• Starting each morning with a device-free hour

These practices, when made habitual, allow better focus on essential information and more conscious choices about digital engagement.