At this stage in adapting to it (and it to me), RSS aggregators actually mitigate information overload. I’m getting feeds from a handful of sites I’d be visiting on a regular basis anyway and I don’t find myself drifting off on tangents as much. It’s possible in terms of the savings in time and maintaining my own narrow focus and interests, it’s good, but it’s a little dull; it’s that unpredictable quality of never knowing where I’ll end up or what can be learned in the traditional unfiltered and unfettered meandering through my favorite sites and blogs that’s missing.
On the other hand, I can see myself adding subscriptions at the same rate as I once bookmarked websites; this could absolutely get out of hand.
In a more general sense (and to answer the actual question), does the use of RSS/RSS aggregators mitigate or aggravate the problem of Information Overload in today’s society…those posts and articles are there regardless whether we read them as they’re sent through a feed, reading them (or choosing not to) in an aggregator is as much a choice as deciding to take a break from the computer for an afternoon, or a week. As long as RSS/RSS aggregators are tools rather than shackles, they represent a tremendous way to be able to quickly review or read articles and posts from select sources.
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