Information avoidance: A critical conceptual review

Information avoidance has long been in the shadow of information seeking. Variously seen as undesired, maladaptive, or even pathological, information avoidance has lacked the sustained attention and conceptualization that has been provided to other information practices. It is also, perhaps uniquely amongst information practices, often invoked to blame or censure those who engage in it. However, closer examination of information avoidance reveals nuanced and complex patterns of interactions with information, ones that often have positive and beneficial outcomes. We challenge the simplistic tenor of this conversation through this critical conceptual review of information avoidance. Starting from an examination of how information avoidance has been treated within Information Science and related disciplines, we then draw upon the various terms that have been used to describe a lack of engagement with information to establish seven core characteristics of the concept. We subsequently use this analysis to establish our definition of information avoidance as practices that moderate interaction with information by reducing the intensity of information, restricting control over information, and/or excluding information based on perceived properties. We consider the implications of this definition and its view of information avoidance as a significant information practice on information research.