What does information overload refer to?

Information overload refers to the challenge individuals face when they are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information, making it difficult to process and absorb what is essential. This concept is tied to the limitations of human cognitive capacity; when faced with too much data, people can struggle to discern relevant details from extraneous information.

Option C accurately captures this notion as it emphasizes the finite capacity individuals have in managing and understanding the information they receive. It highlights the idea that there is a limit to how much information a person can effectively process at one time, leading to potential challenges in decision-making and communication.

In contrast, other options focus on specific aspects that, while related, do not fully encapsulate the broad nature of information overload. For instance, receiving too much irrelevant information touches on one aspect of information overload but doesn’t address the comprehensive cognitive challenges that arise from processing large volumes of data. Similarly, failing to process essential messages and choosing to ignore complex information are consequences of information overload rather than definitions of the term itself.