What Is Data Literacy in 2025? It’s Not What You Think

you heard that the human consideration span is shorter than that of a goldfish?

In line with Microsoft’s 2015 examine, the common human consideration span decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to eight seconds in 2013. The identical report said (utilizing a really easy visible) that this reality formally allowed us to supersede goldfish, which achieved a whopping results of 9 seconds [1].

Maybe fortunately for us, this declare lacked stable peer-reviewed analysis and has since been criticized. The “goldfish” comparability was used extra for shock worth than for scientific accuracy. The concept that goldfish have a 9-second consideration span additionally originates from hype, not rigorous scientific analysis. As a matter of reality, goldfish can bear in mind duties for months and study spatial routes [2], [3].

Nonetheless, the authors of that analysis weren’t that far-off from extra sensible values. A number of surveys and evaluations point out that the time we keep centered on a single display screen has decreased from roughly 2.5 minutes in 2004 to only about 47 seconds now. The explanations embody stress, anxiousness, sleep points, and fixed notifications, in addition to multitasking or continuously checking your cell phone for brand spanking new messages [4].

Individuals are not solely in a position to focus for only a few minutes, however additionally they are likely to neglect what they’ve heard, typically even immediately. We frequently neglect birthdays and names; we go away a gathering with out recalling what was mentioned; we share one thing after which neglect; and so forth [5].

Lastly, we simply get discouraged. Give me an impediment, even a tiny one, and I’ll lose curiosity and focus. Take the instance of Web pages and e-commerce. A web page loading 1 second longer leads to a 20% drop in conversions [6]. And, from my very own expertise, obstacles like the need to select a supply methodology that’s not optimum can carry it to a whole standstill.

What’s on this put up?

Right here comes my level: At the moment, it’s actually difficult to seize individuals’s consideration and understanding. The longer we have to do this, the extra sophisticated the data we need to convey, the larger the chance that we’ll fail.

In a number of of my previous articles, I wrote concerning the idea of information literacy [7] and chatting with people who find themselves not data-literate [8].

Right here, I need to spotlight a special type of paradox: chatting with data-literate individuals who, because of the points I’ve outlined earlier, usually behave as in the event that they have been data-illiterate. What does that imply in follow? How will we talk with such audiences in a approach that helps them actually perceive, keep engaged, work together meaningfully with the content material, and finally make knowledgeable selections?

I can instantly say this isn’t straightforward. I usually discover myself presenting to individuals I do know are extremely competent, well-versed in knowledge, good, and skilled. I make investments time in crafting what I imagine is a transparent, structured narrative, supported by stable knowledge. And but, I fail to get by way of.

Why does this occur? What am I doing fallacious—or not doing but—that might make a distinction? What am I planning to vary? Let me attempt to unpack that right here.

What will we use to know knowledge literacy (and may we nonetheless use it)?

A couple of years again, knowledge literacy was understood in a comparatively slender, technical approach. The “previous” knowledge literacy idea centered primarily on the flexibility to learn, interpret, and manipulate knowledge. It emphasised numeracy, comprehension, and proficiency with primary instruments, akin to utilizing spreadsheets, charts, or statistical strategies. A “data-literate” individual, in that context, may need been a enterprise analyst who may pull stories and summarize traits, a scholar who may interpret a graph in a textbook, a supervisor monitoring gross sales in Excel, or a policymaker studying census knowledge. Storytelling, interplay, or viewers engagement have been hardly ever a part of the dialog. It was largely about technical understanding—not communication, persuasion, or perception.

Over time, nonetheless, the idea of information literacy has been reshaped. This occurred largely because of the popularization of data-driven storytelling by authors akin to Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, Brent Dykes, Nancy Duarte, and, to some extent, myself. At the moment, knowledge literacy is now not nearly studying charts or crunching numbers; it additionally contains the flexibility to border insights successfully, have interaction numerous audiences, and affect selections by way of clear, context-aware narratives.

On this fashionable view, context is not only essential—it’s foundational. It decides if a given story is a hit or not. At the moment, extra knowledge doesn’t imply extra readability. That previous concept is gone. Now, the main focus is on purposeful simplification. It’s about assembly viewers expectations and utilizing good narrative design. The objective isn’t simply to indicate numbers. It’s to information decision-makers—so that they perceive and act on what actually issues.

In the end, a vital facet of recent knowledge literacy is hanging a steadiness between objectivity and persuasion. Being data-driven doesn’t imply overwhelming individuals with uncooked information; it means telling tales which are each truthful and actionable—tales that join knowledge to selections in a approach individuals can perceive and belief.

Trendy knowledge literacy isn’t about understanding formulation — it’s about understanding what inquiries to ask.

It’s much less about math and extra about judgment, context, and skepticism. Particularly now, when AI could make fallacious conclusions look polished and convincing, true knowledge literacy means pondering past the dashboard.

Actuality of “knowledge literacy”

Situation: a dialog that falls aside

I stroll into the room of my firm’s CEO with confidence. I’ve spent hours getting ready a clear, data-driven story for her. I took care of context, visualizations, and a transparent takeaway. I imagine I’ve structured it effectively: the “why,” the numbers, the advice.

I begin presenting.

Inside a minute, she glances at her telephone. Halfway by way of a key perception, she interrupts:

“Wait—why is that this quantity totally different from what I noticed final week?”

I shift gears to elucidate, however in doing so, I derail the circulate of my narrative.

She asks one other query, seemingly unrelated to the subject. I reply, however now I’m leaping between slides, dropping monitor of the logic I had so fastidiously constructed.

The main target is gone.

She’s confused.

I’m pissed off.

She doesn’t care.

We each go away the assembly unclear on what was determined—if something.

The entice of recent knowledge literacy

Is it a pretend situation? By all means not. I skilled a really comparable state of affairs myself, now not than a number of weeks in the past.

And guess what? I genuinely believed I used to be completely ready. I had stable, verified knowledge, a coherent story, and a transparent goal. Every thing was structured, logical, and related. In my thoughts, it was bulletproof. However once I offered it, one thing went off the rails. Regardless of my preparation, the assembly fell wanting expectations. Why?

When knowledge literacy isn’t sufficient

In at present’s high-velocity, distraction-heavy office, even extremely data-literate professionals more and more behave as in the event that they’re data-illiterate. This isn’t as a consequence of incompetence, however relatively the setting by which all of us function. Individuals are bombarded with dashboards, KPIs, alerts, and emails throughout a number of platforms. It’s fixed noise. The result’s cognitive overload—our brains can’t course of or retain the whole lot, together with related info.

Moreover, relentless context switching—from one assembly to the subsequent, from technique to operations, and from product to finance—shatters any capability to focus or observe a logical knowledge narrative from begin to end.

Even when knowledge is offered clearly and logically, issues can nonetheless go fallacious. Why? Due to probably the most underestimated elements in knowledge communication: context. Misalignment round context is among the major causes good tales fail to land [9].

As presenters, we assume a shared understanding—that our viewers is aware of the definitions, remembers previous selections, or views the enterprise panorama in the identical approach we do. Nevertheless, in actuality, our viewers could strategy the issue from a totally totally different angle: short-term KPIs versus long-term objectives, operational ache factors versus strategic shifts, or just a special baseline for comparability. So, once they elevate questions or problem assumptions, it’s not as a result of the information is fallacious—it’s as a result of we’re not talking their language inside their context.

This misalignment usually breaks the circulate of the story and undermines belief. Worse but, in high-stakes settings, knowledge could be interpreted not as perception however as confrontation. It triggers defensiveness, not dialogue.

The issue is magnified by the instruments we now depend on. With the rise of AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, insights are extra accessible than ever. These instruments can auto-generate summaries, flag anomalies, and even counsel selections. However additionally they make it straightforward to mistake automation for understanding.

A clear dashboard or a natural-language abstract offers individuals the phantasm of readability. However perception ≠ reality. It’s all the time filtered, modeled, and framed—usually by machines, typically by individuals. After we fail to query the assumptions behind these insights or skip the mandatory context, we fall into what I name pretend knowledge literacy: we really feel knowledgeable, however we don’t have interaction critically with the information.

On the similar time, enterprise decision-making is turning into more and more fast. Velocity is rewarded; depth is sidelined. Self-service instruments promise empowerment however usually masks complexity, encouraging surface-level interplay. Snap judgments change considerate reflection. Individuals are uncovered to extra knowledge than ever earlier than—however with much less time, much less context, and extra danger of misinterpretation.

The New Information Literacy

In at present’s panorama, conventional knowledge abilities—akin to studying charts, calculating metrics, and constructing dashboards—are now not sufficient. Trendy knowledge literacy means with the ability to body insights, navigate ambiguity, and translate numbers into selections. It’s about understanding the narrative, the emotional and political context, and the timing. It’s about understanding how you can problem AI-generated insights, relatively than simply accepting them.

The brand new knowledge literacy means:

• Studying context: understanding who the viewers is and what issues to them,
• Growing the flexibility to problem insights, particularly these generated by algorithms,
• Practising narrative pondering: to information individuals, not simply inform them,
• Pondering past the dashboard: specializing in judgment, relevance, and timing.

Easy methods to construct tales with knowledge for (il) literates of at present?

All of this may sound stable in concept—and it’s. However you may rightly ask:

For those who say you have been so effectively ready within the situation above, what makes you suppose these methods will work?

And right here’s the trustworthy reply: there’s no assure. That’s the wonder—and the frustration—of working with individuals and knowledge in at present’s setting. Every thing I’ve written about—the pace, the unpredictability, the fractured consideration—creates circumstances the place issues can go off monitor at any second. The reality is, the chance of confusion or derailment is all the time excessive. And the extra individuals within the room receiving your story, the larger the percentages that one thing will misfire. These dangers don’t simply add up—they multiply with each new individual within the viewers.

Dangerous or not, I’ve developed a listing of sensible steps to assist maximize possibilities of success. I’ve divided them into two elements. The primary focuses on what could be executed earlier than the assembly — preparation ways that function your greatest line of protection. In spite of everything, prevention is all the time higher than a remedy. However when issues don’t go as deliberate, the second half affords in-the-moment methods — a type of emergency equipment for use through the assembly or instantly afterward to get issues again on monitor.

Trendy knowledge literacy: prescriptive measures

Maintain the anchors: At all times make sure that the viewers is aware of what they’re . Set clear anchors early: what’s the situation, which KPI is underneath assessment, and what number of income or annual goal is in danger? With out this context, individuals can’t decide the significance of what you’re saying. Anchors present context for numbers and assist your viewers keep oriented all through the story.

Guarantee consistency throughout your story: It’s not sufficient to your knowledge to be technically appropriate—it additionally must align persistently with what’s been proven earlier than and with the narrative you’re constructing. For those who reference a quantity in a single a part of your story and present a special one on the display screen—saying, “Oh, that wasn’t up to date but, however think about it’s proper”—you instantly lose your viewers’s belief and a spotlight. These small inconsistencies could be important distractions, particularly for people already struggling to remain centered. Make sure that all numbers, visuals, and commentaries are synchronized and updated, so your story feels coherent, credible, and deliberate.

State objectives, key messages, and conclusions: In a world stuffed with noise, ambiguity is your enemy. Make it unmistakably clear why you’re talking, what the viewers ought to take away, and what motion is predicted. Don’t bury your objective in slides or hope they “get it” by the tip. Say it up entrance: “We’re right here to resolve whether or not to spend money on X.” Reiterate key messages as you go, and land clearly in your conclusion. For attention-fatigued audiences, readability isn’t a bonus—it’s a lifeline. When your objective is sharp, your story has path, and your viewers is aware of how you can have interaction.

Be clear concerning the level: Say precisely why you’re there and what you need to obtain. For instance: “We’re right here to resolve on X.” State your major message early and clearly, and are available again to it all through. Don’t assume individuals will choose it up from context—make it apparent. Finish with a transparent, actionable conclusion. If individuals don’t perceive the objective, they gained’t observe the story, and so they undoubtedly gained’t act on it.

Reduce off the suspense: Don’t construct as much as your level—lead with it. Consideration is proscribed, and audiences at present don’t have the persistence for gradual reveals. State the important thing message or perception instantly, then present the supporting knowledge. For those who wait too lengthy, you danger dropping individuals earlier than you get there. Make your story straightforward to enter, quick to observe, and fast to know.

Guarantee a correct circulate: Construct a transparent and coherent narrative. Reduce the backstory right down to solely what the viewers actually wants to know the purpose. Lead with the core message, and construction your content material so it flows logically from perception to motion. Remove distractions and aspect tracks—they dilute your message.

Validate, crosscheck, follow: Earlier than you current, stress-test your story. Validate your knowledge, double-check key numbers, and ensure the whole lot aligns—out of your abstract to your charts. Crosscheck for consistency: is your language clear, are your visuals correct, and do all of them assist the identical message? Then, follow. A dry run helps uncover weak spots, complicated transitions, or moments the place your viewers may get misplaced. The extra you rehearse, the extra assured and centered you’ll be when it counts.

And lastly, be a storytelling Yoda: Readability, construction, and calm steering—these are your instruments. Communicate properly, body your ideas fastidiously, and assist others see what they should see. Don’t overwhelm with knowledge dumps or convoluted logic. As an alternative, information your viewers by way of the story with intention and empathy. Focus not on exhibiting how a lot you recognize, however on serving to them perceive what issues.

Trendy knowledge literacy: if issues don’t go to plan…

Okay. Now that you’ve got executed your homework, you step into the assembly room, and guess what? You get out in  20 minutes with the identical consequence as earlier than.

Here’s what you are able to do through the assembly, and after it, so that you just both additional cut back the chance, or reduce losses if the unhealthy situation ultimately materializes.

Throughout the Assembly

1. Do not forget that you continue to are a Storytelling Yoda. Above all, don’t panic. Stay centered in your objective, preserve your composure, and don’t let the strain shake your confidence. Calm should you keep, my apprentice…
2. Re-anchor ceaselessly: Begin along with your anchors—however don’t cease there. All through the assembly, remind the viewers of the situation, the KPI at stake, and the enterprise affect (e.g., “This places 12% of our Q3 income in danger”). Repeating anchors assist keep orientation and reinforce relevance.
3. Restate the objective when crucial: If the dialog begins to stray, refocus it on the unique objective. A easy phrase, akin to “Simply to refocus us—we’re right here to resolve on X,” can reset consideration and make clear subsequent steps.
4. Look ahead to alerts of confusion: search for cues akin to silence, unrelated questions, or leaping forward. These are indicators individuals are misplaced or disengaged. Pause, rewind to the important thing level, and make clear. Don’t energy by way of confusion—handle it overtly and calmly.
5. Use signposting language. This helps focus minds, particularly when consideration is slipping:
   • “Right here’s the important thing level…”
   • “That is the place we make the decision…”
   • “Now, let’s join that to the KPI.
6. Summarize Typically. Each 5–7 minutes, give a brief recap. This helps retention and decision-making:
   • Why it issues
   • What resolution or suggestions is required
7. Guarantee note-taking. Make sure that somebody is taking notes, capturing key conclusions and takeaways, and presenting them for remaining alignment. Ultimately, you should utilize an AI script generator (e.g., obtainable within the Zoom app if the assembly is held on-line), however these are usually not all the time correct but, so I might not rely solely on them.
8. Steer the wave: Hyper-attentive individuals with distractions throughout them are likely to drift off-topic simply—and the extra senior or essential they’re, the extra seemingly it’s to occur. What personally annoys me (if I’ll share) is that once I get sidetracked, they cease me and apologize to the viewers on my behalf. Nevertheless, once they derail the dialogue, it’s in some way utterly acceptable. Small frustration—thanks for letting me vent… And apologies for straying from the primary level… 😊

   Anyway, what are you able to do in such a state of affairs?

   Keep calm and steer the dialog again with out calling anybody out. Use light framing like, “That’s an amazing level, and I feel we will hyperlink it again to…” or “Let me shortly tie that to the primary KPI we’re discussing…” Your job is to trip the wave, not resist it—information the vitality again to the core message, reinforce your anchors, and defend the narrative circulate with out making it private.

After the Assembly

Ship a follow-up abstract. Embrace:

• The objective of the assembly,
• Key knowledge factors and anchors
• Major conclusion or open questions,
• Subsequent steps or selections made.

Even when the assembly went sideways, a crisp follow-up can reframe the story and get better readability.

Make clear misunderstandings promptly: If one thing was misinterpreted or challenged, observe up immediately. Say, “Let me make clear the information we mentioned—I’ve cross-checked it, and right here’s the precise situation.” Closing the loop shortly restores belief.

Doc what didn’t land. Use this perception to revise your supplies or story for the subsequent time. Pay attention to:

• The place individuals received confused
• What distracted them
• What questions disrupted the circulate

Guide a brief debrief (if wanted): If the choice didn’t occur or felt unresolved, suggest a quick follow-up session with a centered agenda: “I’d like quarter-hour to shut the loop on our dialogue. I’ve tightened the important thing factors for faster alignment.”

Mirror and modify. Ask your self:

• Did I lead with the conclusion?
• Had been my anchors clear and repeated?
• Did the viewers have what they wanted to behave?

Every assembly is a take a look at—and an opportunity to sharpen your supply for subsequent time.

Know-how is to assist

… however we have to preserve it a bit old fashioned.

As I used to be writing all this, one factor struck me: at present, we rely closely on know-how—particularly LLMs and AI brokers. And that’s largely a great factor. These instruments enhance our productiveness, assist us scale, and simplify our lives in numerous methods. However irrespective of how superior they turn into, they will’t change the depth of human interplay—actual contact, real emotion, or the stress that emerges within the second. Nice preparation, good visuals, and even a flawless story gained’t land if we neglect the “human” a part of communication. We have to mix timeless abilities—akin to diligence, accuracy, empathy, and emotional consciousness—with fashionable instruments that assist us analyze and current knowledge successfully.

That doesn’t imply abandoning these fashionable instruments. But it surely does imply not counting on them solely. Consider it like going to a giant live performance. Have you ever been to at least one lately? A significant band, a packed venue, the vitality buzzing by way of the group?

Then you definately’ve in all probability observed how many individuals expertise it… by way of their telephone screens.

Personally, I don’t perceive it. I choose to expertise the live performance within the second—to soak within the music, share the vitality with others, perhaps even bounce round (okay, maybe not me), take within the sights, the sounds, the smells—the whole lot. Watching it in a while a telephone display screen doesn’t come shut. Possibly 1% of the actual expertise, and even that comes at the price of lacking the second as a result of I used to be too busy recording it.

Now, let’s evaluate that to how concert events felt not so way back…

[1] Are we no better than goldfish?, Jules M Epstein

[2] Memory like a goldfish? Why this could be a good thing

[3] Busting The Social Media Ruined Our Average Attention Span Goldfish Myth, Michael Brenner

[4] Easily distracted? How to improve your attention span, Devi Shastri, Laura Barggeld

[5] My very own expertise 🙂

[6] How website performance affects conversion rates

[7] The might of data literacy, Michal Szudejko

[8] How to talk about data and analysis to non-data people, Michal Szudejko

[9] Power of context in data-driven storytelling, Michal Szudejko

Disclaimer

This put up was written utilizing Microsoft Phrase, and the spelling and grammar have been checked with Grammarly. I reviewed and adjusted any modifications to make sure that my meant message was precisely mirrored. All different makes use of of AI (picture and pattern knowledge era) have been disclosed immediately within the textual content.