What does the term "information overload" refer to?

The term "information overload" specifically refers to the problem of having excessive data that is hard to process. In our increasingly digital world, individuals and organizations often face a vast amount of information from various sources. This can lead to difficulties in decision-making, as the sheer volume of information can overwhelm a person's ability to analyze and interpret it effectively. Consequently, this can hinder productivity and impair the quality of decisions made, as one might struggle to discern which pieces of information are valuable and relevant.

The other options, while related to challenges associated with information and data management, do not capture the essence of "information overload." For example, gathering too much irrelevant data focuses more on the quality of information collected rather than the volume and processing challenge. Confusion from having too many options addresses decision fatigue rather than the inability to process vast amounts of data effectively. Lastly, the difficulty in locating data when needed speaks to accessibility issues rather than the overwhelming nature of processing excessive information. Hence, the second choice encapsulates the core concept of information overload accurately.