5 reasons why we are addicted to Listicles? Confessions of an addict

Written by Mark Leong, Young Workers Program Manager in Sydney.

Mark is a big fan of Listicles. The next Young Workers event is titled: 5 things to get right before 25. It’s an open invitation. All welcome. Click on the link above to register and find out more info.

1. I didn’t know this term existed until March this year (and yes, being a bloke, I have checked that autocorrect hasn’t changed it to something else.) For those who were in the dark like me:

A Listicle is: “an article on the Internet presented in the form of a numbered or bullet-pointed list.” (thanks Google!)

Popularised through sites like Buzzfeed, they are the rage – we are addicted because everyone else is. But why are they so attractive? Well, that requires another bullet point.

2. An article in Forbes answers our question:

"Easy! Listicles let us distill information in a very digestible way."

We are saturated in an information overload. The tap on the fire hose of information has been turned and we are drowning. I don’t like indigestion, even it be reading. Listicles win!

3. To quote the demi-god of pop: Taylor Swift – "The haters gonna hate."¹ But don’t listicles over-simplify life? Yes, they do. That is part of why we are addicted. I know life is complex, busy. I’m time-poor as much as the robotic workers who get off the train each Monday morning. Listicles help me simplify life. Win!

4. However, the point of over-simplification still stands. It can’t be dismissed in one bullet point. It might explain my addiction but I can’t live in denial. WE can’t live in denial. Again, I refer to the Forbes’ article:

"Critics say that life isn’t a listicle. We can’t distill the multi-faceted aspects of modern existence into five bullet points. I agree. A listicle isn’t the be-all-end-all. But it’s a good place to start."

Listicles aren't comprehensive but they are a good place to start. Like a table of contents, they orient our exploration and our expectations.

5. Perhaps unexpectedly, I think Jesus uses a listicle approach when he taught some 2000 years ago. Jesus really was before his time! Some of his famous quotes are a good place to start – they aren’t comprehensive but do orient our exploration and expectations in life. Like a listicle, they greet us to simplify life while we maybe drowning, to point us to healthy living when we have indigestion. One example is this:

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10b

In saying this, Jesus endorses life and yet meets me where I am at – some mornings and perhaps more than I like to admit, I can’t help but feel that there is something missing and something more. His offer is for life to the full. Like listicles, it's appetizing, it’s simple and perhaps, a good place to start.

Find out more about City Bible Forum activities for Graduates & Young Workers

Read our other blogs about Gen Y: Too Busy? and Simplifying your Busy Life

¹ apologies to all Tay Tay fans for misquoting her in the original piece. Thank you to the anonymous young worker (anonymous in part, because they are in fact a closet Tay Tay fan) who corrected me.