What will today's data tell future historians?

Such is the state of social media in present times that future historians might label our age as the Narcissistic Age.

People are voyeuristic, narcissistic to the hilt and filled with vanity, caring too much about how they are perceived by others.

Social media, with its viral pics and messages, may provide a micro-understanding of how we are living, but without proper context or wider implications of the events shaping our age.

Apart from the digital records of today, historians will also study physical artefacts, and one thing that they will definitely encounter is plastic, due to its rather long shelf life. 

Plastic litter will help them see what we consumed, and the various chemicals in packaged food items.

Small but vocal minorities have ensured that all kinds of ideologies, beliefs and discussions keep happening all the time, and even in the 21st century, plenty of people are there to deny the holocaust or claim that the earth is flat. The vast amount of disinformation will likely puzzle future historians.

Decontextualisation is a relatively new problem of digital media, as the stuff being circulated across the web often lacks any information about where it came from or if it is real. The lack of context would amplify over time.

• Just like the political cartoons of the 18th Century, today’s memes pack a lot of informational value for future historians. 
• The trouble is that there is so much data and polarizing perspectives that it may lead to further distortions in understanding.
• One thing is for sure: highly original, interesting stories will be narrated about this age, proving yet again that truth is stranger than fiction.