Do you ever feel like you are MAXED OUT on news . . . because the majority of it is BAD news? Well, there may be a reason: Our brains weren’t built to be burdened by doom-scrolling, or Fox News and CNN 24-7.
A new study notes that humans evolved to pay close attention to danger . . . mostly clear and present threats. But in our lives today, “that instinct is being overwhelmed by an endless supply of bad news from around the world.”
It may seem like the bad-news-overload is a uniquely American thing . . . but’s a global struggle.
40% of people worldwide say they at least sometimes or often avoid the news.
In the U.S., it’s 42%. It’s OVER 60% in Bulgaria, Turkey, Croatia, and Greece . . . and it’s UNDER 30% in most of Scandinavia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan, where only 11% said they avoid news.
And the reasons people do this are relatable: News puts them in a bad mood, they feel overwhelmed, and powerless to act. And in some cases, it’s because it leads to real-life arguments they also want to dodge.
The study points out that “decades of research” shows that our human minds weigh negative information more heavily than positive. We’re drawn to it faster, and we remember it longer.
They put it like this: “A predator nearby mattered more than a beautiful sunset.”
So what do we do about it? Well, trying to block it all out probably won’t work. News will find its way to us in one way or another . . . especially now that we all have smartphones . . . and when that happens, it will still be a major burden. Also: You’re not better off being LESS informed and aware.
The key is to manage the “consumption and the sources,” which means you should try to keep the news to designated buckets of time as much as possible, and stick to accurate, trustworthy sources, which aren’t manipulating and entertaining you . . . to keep you hooked for hours and hours.