In a recent study, more than 40% of respondents from nearly 50 countries said they sometimes or often avoid the news. The trend is particularly pronounced in the great anglophone outposts, the United States and the United Kingdom. There, the portions increase to 42% and 46%, respectively. This growing phenomenon of news avoidance raises questions about the psychological impacts of media consumption, especially in times of crisis.
Roxane Cohen Silver is a preeminent researcher who has studied the effects of media exposure on mental health for decades. She points out that rising political polarization and graphic imagery are key stressors impacting many people today. Her research shows that the more people are exposed to traumatic news, the higher their levels of anxiety, depression and other psychological symptoms.
With increased exposure, we observe increased distress in people’s self-reported mental health. Higher levels of anxiety, higher levels of depression, higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms, acute stress symptoms,” described Silver. With the advent of smartphones and social media, it’s easier to be exposed to traumatic content than ever before. As a result, many people find themselves consciously deciding to avoid the news altogether.
Connecticut-based artist, Julian Burrett, who dropped out of news media consumption during the pandemic, resonates with this feeling. He describes his experience as one of liberation from constant negative updates: “Now that I don’t watch the news, I just don’t have that anxiety. I don’t have dread.” Burrett has created a small Reddit community, r/newsavoidance, where others share their advice and experiences with avoiding news.
Benjamin Toff, whose recent book Avoiding the News tracks this phenomenon, underscores how inescapable the news is to access now. We’re living in an environment where there’s news 24 hours a day at your fingertips. It’s information overload! “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should,” he said. Toff is optimistic, arguing that Americans are desperately hungry for information. They are discouraged at times by what seems to be an unending river of bad news and images.
According to the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America poll, political worries have become the number one source of stress for Americans. The economy and the spread of fake news are doing their part to stoke overall anxiety as well. Silver’s research further supports these findings. It’s indicative of how political polarization has become a major stressor in people’s lives across the U.S.
In reaction to these trends, many individuals have attempted to draw the line themselves to protect their personal news consumption. A Maryland resident noted that he scans headlines without going deeper into stories to avoid feelings of anger over recent political developments. Experts warn that disengagement can lead to a rift that breeds ignorance about important happenings.
“People shouldn’t feel like they have to doomscrolling in order to be informed,” Silver argues, and calls for a more balanced approach to media engagement. In addition to protecting children from harmful content, she stresses the need to filter out graphic content that may prove psychologically damaging. “I don’t see any psychological or physical benefit from consumption of those types of imagery,” she said.
This trend in news avoiders has jumped from 29% in 2017 to today’s 40%. This shift suggests a growing recognition of the mental toll that constant exposure to negative news can take on individuals. As Americans recognize the effects of their emotional reactions to consuming the news, many are choosing to consume less news to reduce their exposure.