Have you ever noticed how hard it is to look away from bad news? Maybe you’ve found yourself scrolling through sad or troubling headlines on your phone, even though they make you feel awful. You’re not alone. Scientists have discovered some fascinating things about how we interact with news, and more importantly, how we can make better choices about what we read.

Recent studies reveal the profound impact negative news has on our emotional state. Research indicates that consuming negative news significantly increases feelings of anger while decreasing overall happiness and enjoyment (Chew & Lo, 2024). Much like the relationship between diet and physical health, what we feed our minds directly affects our mental well-being. Some study participants even reported feeling physically ill after prolonged exposure to negative news content.

The pull of negative news isn’t accidental. Researchers discovered that each negative word in a headline increases click-through rates by 2.3% (Robertson et al., 2023). Media outlets understand this psychology, often crafting headlines that tap into our natural tendency to pay attention to potential threats. It’s a dynamic that makes stepping away particularly challenging.

This challenge has given rise to what researchers call “doomscrolling” — a behavior where individuals compulsively consume distressing content online despite its negative effects on their mental health. Studies show this behavior is linked to our primitive survival instincts, triggered by perceived threats and existential concerns (Mandliya et al., 2024). Many people find themselves trapped in this cycle, much like any other habit that’s difficult to break.

But here’s where things get interesting: Choice is the power to control your life, and consistently making wise decisions is key to becoming the person you were created to be. This principle applies powerfully to how we consume news and information. Just as we’ve learned to make conscious choices about our physical health, we can develop intentional habits around our media consumption.

Consider implementing these mindful practices:

  1. Designate specific times for news updates, treating them as scheduled appointments rather than constant interruptions.
  2. Create a balanced media diet by actively seeking out solution-focused journalism and stories of progress.
  3. Establish regular digital wellness breaks to engage in activities that restore and energize.
  4. Engage in meaningful discussions about positive developments in your community and beyond.


Think of it as creating a sustainable approach to staying informed. The goal isn’t to avoid all negative news — being aware of important issues is crucial for engaged citizenship. Instead, it’s about making conscious choices about how and when we consume this information.

Every time you choose to step back from the endless news cycle, you’re exercising your power to shape your mental environment. These small decisions compound over time, contributing to not just your personal well-being but your effectiveness in responding to the challenges our world faces.

Your daily choices around media consumption might seem small, but they’re part of a larger pattern that shapes your perspective on the world and your capacity to engage with it meaningfully. By making intentional decisions about your news consumption, you’re not just protecting your mental health — you’re developing the discernment needed to be both well-informed and emotionally resilient. Remember: you have the power to choose how information enters your life.

_____________

References

Chew, J., & Lo, C. (2024). Emotional effects of news consumption. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/q5ekx

Mandliya, A., Pandey, J., Hassan, Y., Behl, A., & Alessio, I. (2024). Negative brand news, social media, and the propensity to doomscrolling: measuring and validating a new scale. https://doi.org/10.1080/00208825.2023.2301219

Robertson, C., Pröllochs, N., Schwarzenegger, K., Pärnamets, P., Van Bavel, J. J., & Feuerriegel, S. (2023). Negativity drives online news consumption. Nature Human Behaviour, 7(5), 812–822. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01538-4