More and more people are tuning the news out: 'Now I don't have that anxiety
3 days ago
- #media consumption
- #mental health
- #news avoidance
- News avoidance is at a record high globally, with 40% of respondents in a 2024 survey saying they sometimes or often avoid the news.
- Reasons for avoiding news include negative impacts on mood, overwhelming volume, excessive coverage of war/conflict, and feeling powerless.
- Some individuals have taken extreme measures, such as deleting news apps or creating online communities to discuss news avoidance strategies.
- Studies link excessive news consumption, especially via TV and social media, to increased anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms.
- Political polarization and exposure to distressing content (e.g., graphic imagery) are significant stressors.
- Experts recommend setting boundaries, such as scheduled news consumption, curated newsletters, and avoiding push notifications.
- Concerns exist about news avoidance deepening social divides, particularly among young people, women, and lower socioeconomic groups.