We all know why the world seems to be heading to hell in supersonic jets: we’re the ones flying the jets. In our pursuit of news, information and knowledge, we are constantly ingesting the shockingly negative news that dominates the Internet, television and some print media. My fear is that we will soon up our game and become even more obsessively interested in the recent earthquakes, floods, fires and mass shootings with colorful plastic action scenes and figurines of the latest incidents, free with our fast food meals.
When I recount the latest horrifying news about corruption, racism, and injustice, I come across as honorable, righteous, and wise, but the good news about people acting heroically and compassionately (CBS’s Steve Hartman’s “On the Road,” NBC’s “Inspiring America,” etc.) comes across as inconsequential, unconvincing, the kind of thing that would make the front page of a middle school newspaper.
According to Psychology Today, even though many aspects of life have improved dramatically over the past few decades, filling your time with news packaged as the most important news makes you more likely to believe the world is rapidly descending into disaster and chaos. For news addicts, being exposed to consistent sensational pessimism and negativity is the norm. Why does this matter? According to Mental Health America and the American Psychological Association, what we see in the news has a profound impact on our mental health.
“The world is about to come to an end” stories attract more attention online, showcase more dramatic imagery, and provoke more intense emotions in us. We are biased toward the negative. We respond more strongly and persistently to bad things than to equivalent good things.
We should all follow the news, but why not supplement your red meat-heavy news programs with some fruits and vegetables? Here are three suggestions:
After the 2016 presidential election, Garrison Keillor wrote that no American president had had a greater impact on his life than his third-grade teacher, Fern Mollenbrock. “Her kindness and cheerfulness grow stronger in my memory, and Nixon was a great friend to me,” he wrote. [President Richard Nixon] Keillor suggested that while we can express serious concerns and respond to threatening world conditions, we should also be equally attentive to the joy and elation of events like our granddaughter winning four ribbons in gymnastics. So, my first suggestion is to make more of an effort to find good news and be grateful for the good things that happen around us every day. Check out 21,000 good news articles from the Good News Network© and many other good news sources.
On February 7th of this year, the BBC featured a science article, featuring journalist Amanda Ruggieri. Ruggieri emphasized how important it is to be a thoughtful and insightful citizen. Good people follow current affairs. But the article states that our understanding of contemporary issues is fading. A recent US poll found that the percentage of adults who say they follow the news avidly has fallen from 51% in 2016 to 38% in 2022. Among 18-29 year olds, it’s only 19%. And Facebook is now the most common news source.
So, Ruggieri’s second suggestion is to use Facebook and similar social media sites only for their intended purpose: to stay in touch with friends and build new relationships. Gathering news and information should come from trusted news outlets and professional journalists. Treat news pushed by algorithms or artificial intelligence with skepticism and caution. When reading unusual news claims, verify them before engaging.
My third suggestion is to act on what you can, not worry about what you can’t. By trying to solve what you can’t, we drain the energy and resources we need to solve what we can. We can’t stop war. We can’t stop climate change. We can’t change other people. But we can march for peace, recycle, reuse, reduce, and spread something positive, something loving, something fun. You and I can take action by joining aid groups, donating to causes, signing petitions, challenging falsehoods, and spreading the truth. Doing small acts of good in our own backyard will have a huge positive impact on our mental health and our future.
Chris John Amrosino lives in Unionville and looks for something positive to make the news every day.
