--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have the most complete and instant…" description: "\"“We have the most complete and instant access to information in all of history, and we’re using it to watch funny cat videos.”\" — Jean M. Twenge" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/jean-m-twenge-20390_data_we-have-the-most-complete-and-instant-ac_2167784.jpg" --- # We have the most complete and instant access to… ![“We have the most complete and instant access to information in all of history, and we’re using it to watch funny cat videos.” quote by Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/jean-m-twenge-20390_data_we-have-the-most-complete-and-instant-ac_2167784.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/jean-m-twenge-20390_data_we-have-the-most-complete-and-instant-ac_2167784.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83a/jean-m-twenge-20390_data_we-have-the-most-complete-and-instant-ac_2167784.jpg) > ““We have the most complete and instant access to information in all of history, and we’re using it to watch funny cat videos.”” [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern information abundance is often wasted on trivial content **In simple terms:** We have endless data but focus on shallow entertainment Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful learning over distraction Themes technology media consumption attention Mood reflective concerned Type educational critical When to use this quote - education policy - personal productivity - media critique Key Concepts digital overload information age Questions to Reflect On - How can we improve digital habits? - What values should guide information use? A Different Perspective Balancing access with purposeful use is challenging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat Videos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-videos-750357/) [Data](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) [Funny cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-cat/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Using](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-using-1913993/) [Information History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information-history-4628808/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Watch Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch-funny-3392842/) ## Related quotes > [“History is written by every generation. Every generation writes its own history using the same sources. The interpretations vary according to time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teodoro-a-agoncillo/history-is-written-by-every-generation-every-generation-writes-its/) [Teodoro A. Agoncillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teodoro-a-agoncillo/) > [America creates myths by focusing a lot of energy on its history and using it - - not always, but sometimes - for constructive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-henri-levy/america-creates-myths-by-focusing-a-lot-of-energy-on-its-history-and/) [Bernard-Henri Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-henri-levy/) > [Your great country is wonderful at stealing pieces of history and using it for its own purposes, so there didn't seem to be anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-apted/your-great-country-is-wonderful-at-stealing-pieces-of-history-and/) [Michael Apted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-apted/) > [When I have had a long day at work, I want something to watch that is funny, lighthearted and easy to get into, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-childs/when-i-have-had-a-long-day-at-work-i-want-something-to-watch-that-is/) [Amy Childs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-childs/) > [The promos with all of the beautiful women probably attracted some men, but the mystery story line is pretty cool. It's got that dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-denton/the-promos-with-all-of-the-beautiful-women-probably-attracted-some/) [James Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-denton/) > [If you're sick, watch funny movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/if-you-re-sick-watch-funny-movies/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [We definitely have our finger on the pulse. You have to keep up. We decide what to watch by what's funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-wayans/we-definitely-have-our-finger-on-the-pulse-you-have-to-keep-up-we/) [Shawn Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-wayans/) > [There's nothing like watching cat videos to help me pass the time until I can see my cat again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-like-watching-cat-videos-to-help-me-pass-the-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We're all trapped in the digital world. It's filled with cat videos, and you have to dodge comments about how much you stink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dantdm/we-re-all-trapped-in-the-digital-world-it-s-filled-with-cat-videos/) [DanTDM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dantdm/) > [Well, I have to say, I used to spend a lot of time looking at cat videos on the internet. It's like YouTube have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/well-i-have-to-say-i-used-to-spend-a-lot-of-time-looking-at-cat/) [Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/) > [“Carla lives for cat videos. She thinks they're the only thing the Internet is good for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/carla-lives-for-cat-videos-she-thinks-they-re-the-only-thing-the/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [There's a lot of cat videos. Cats are just hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-peep/there-s-a-lot-of-cat-videos-cats-are-just-hilarious/) [Lil Peep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-peep/) > [Every day, three times per second, we produce the equivalent of the amount of data that the Library of Congress has in it's entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/every-day-three-times-per-second-we-produce-the-equivalent-of-the/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [I love YouTube. You can find me there watching cat videos. I even like to watch other people play video games. I know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marley-dias/i-love-youtube-you-can-find-me-there-watching-cat-videos-i-even-like/) [Marley Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marley-dias/) > [When I get stressed out my de-stress default is - not cat videos - but I just watch his surrogates. They're so entertaining. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/when-i-get-stressed-out-my-de-stress-default-is-not-cat-videos-but-i/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) ## More by Jean M. Twenge > [“Yet GenX'er teens didn't slow down--they were just as likely to drive, drink alcohol, and date as their Boomer peers and more likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/yet-genx-er-teens-didn-t-slow-down-they-were-just-as-likely-to-drive/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Wanting to feel safe all of the time can also lead to wanting to protect against emotional upset—the concern with “emotional safety” somewhat unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/wanting-to-feel-safe-all-of-the-time-can-also-lead-to-wanting-to/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Adolescence--the time when teens begin to do things adults do--now happens later. Thirteen-year-olds--and even 18-year-olds-- are less likely to act like adults and spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/adolescence-the-time-when-teens-begin-to-do-things-adults-do-now/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“All in all, in-person social interaction is much better for mental health than electronic communication.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/all-in-all-in-person-social-interaction-is-much-better-for-mental/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Races, socioeconomic groups, and regions differ in their religious service attendance much more than they did a few decades ago. The religious landscape is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/races-socioeconomic-groups-and-regions-differ-in-their-religious/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Every time I went to the library, it felt like a treasure hunt: somewhere amid those dusty books was the answer, and all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/every-time-i-went-to-the-library-it-felt-like-a-treasure-hunt/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“(“Everyone likes me and thinks I’m great in my safe space / We can face almost anything, but reality we can do without.”)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/everyone-likes-me-and-thinks-i-m-great-in-my-safe-space-we-can-face/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Managers who can give them some security, along with some nurturance, may well find themselves with the hardest-working group of young people to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/managers-who-can-give-them-some-security-along-with-some-nurturance/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Fewer teens having sex is one of the reasons behind what many see as one of the most positive youth trends in recent years:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/fewer-teens-having-sex-is-one-of-the-reasons-behind-what-many-see-as/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Some suggest that this cocoon mentality is behind recent campus trends such as "trigger warnings" to alert students that a reading or lecture material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/some-suggest-that-this-cocoon-mentality-is-behind-recent-campus/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“many iGen students seem to see their schools as behind the times, irrelevant in a fast-paced world of constantly changing technology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/many-igen-students-seem-to-see-their-schools-as-behind-the-times/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“No matter what the cause, the result is the same: iGen teens are less likely to experience the freedom of being out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/no-matter-what-the-cause-the-result-is-the-same-igen-teens-are-less/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“Due to these influences and many others, iGen is distinct from every previous generation in how its members spend their time, how they behave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/due-to-these-influences-and-many-others-igen-is-distinct-from-every/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“A stunning 31% more 8th and 10th graders felt lonely in 2015 than in 2011, along with 22% more 12th graders”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/a-stunning-31-more-8th-and-10th-graders-felt-lonely-in-2015-than-in/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) > [“We protect children from danger, real and imaginary, and are then surprised when they go to college and create safe spaces designed to repel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-twenge/we-protect-children-from-danger-real-and-imaginary-and-are-then/) [Jean M. Twenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) [Explore all 31 Jean M. Twenge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-twenge/) ## More Data quotes > [Information is money, but data is squat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-llama-butler/information-is-money-but-data-is-squat/) [Angela Llama-Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-llama-butler/) > [“ data analytics consulting Perceptive Analtyics is a data analytic company and a trusted advisor to its clients across domains. Click to know more”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastianmax/data-analytics-consulting-perceptive-analtyics-is-a-data-analytic/) [SebastianMax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastianmax/) > [The information nation took their clues from all the sound bite gluttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem/the-information-nation-took-their-clues-from-all-the-sound-bite/) [REM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) [Ebbe Skovdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebbe-skovdahl/) > [Unlike return, however, risk is no more quantifiable at the end of an investment that it was at its beginning. Risk simply cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/unlike-return-however-risk-is-no-more-quantifiable-at-the-end-of-an/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [Finding patterns is easy in any kind of data-rich environment; that's what mediocre gamblers do. The key is in determining whether the patterns represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/finding-patterns-is-easy-in-any-kind-of-data-rich-environment-that-s/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Web users ultimately want to get at data quickly and easily. They don't care as much about attractive sites and pretty design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/web-users-ultimately-want-to-get-at-data-quickly-and-easily-they-don/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [“The amount of stored information grows four times faster than the world economy, while the processing power of computers grows nine times faster. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-mayer-sch-nberger/the-amount-of-stored-information-grows-four-times-faster-than-the/) [Viktor Mayer-Schönberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-mayer-sch-nberger/) [Browse all 3,134 Data quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/data/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We have the most complete and instant access to information in all of history, and we’re using it to watch funny cat videos.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean M. 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