I am obliged to disclose an undisclosed weakness of mine: I find great enthusiasm in immersing myself in a lineage of podcasts that would typically populate the distasteful section of a bookshop epitomised as “self-improvement”. These audible guides, numbering six or more, are my stalwart companions during mundane tasks, and are ceaseless sources of inspiration and novel insights into my existence and writing subjects alike.
However, I’ve recognised a discernible yet disconcerting shift in the content of these podcasts recently, wherein steering clear from contemporary news has been continually advocated as a prescription for maximising one’s potential. I find it essential to establish that I’m not endorsing an existence gorged on an insatiable consumption of news, where each unfolding development is monitored like one would a riveting sports match. This could potentially be a scapegoat from confronting the intricate and complexities of our own lives.
However, it does concern me, and not solely from an occupational perspective, about the noticeable reluctance in people to engage with worldly affairs. As per a study disseminated by Reuters Institute of Oxford University during the summer, a surge in news avoidance, from 29 per cent in 2017 to a staggering 39 per cent, was identified globally. Amidst the overwhelming influx of information in our lives, this practise of isolating oneself from reality might be perceived as yet another simplistic solution.
In the United Kingdom, there has been an alarming decrease in active news engagement over the previous ten years. Presently, 46 per cent of the population opts to ignore the news, a significant leap from 24 per cent in 2017. Moreover, enthusiasm for news articles has sharply dropped, with only 38 per cent of Britons proclaiming a ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ high interest level— down from an impressive 70 per cent in 2015.
Across the pond, in the US where news is often served as entertainment, interest rates remain somewhat more promising albeit declining: dipping from 67 per cent to 52 per cent during the same time frame.
Often, platforms such as X and TikTok are finger-pointed for any negative effects on news engagement. However, interaction with news content on these domains is decreasing, too. A study by GWI, a market research company, revealed that 35 per cent of American users have decreased time spent on social media in the past quarter. Out of these, almost half attribute this to political discourse and 30 per cent quote political content as detrimental to their emotional and mental welfare.
The desire to guard one’s mental health by occasionally disconnecting from the news isn’t surprising. Ideally, it could also be part of a well-advised digital detox routine.
Avoiding highly distressing or scary news could indeed be a good strategy. To corroborate, a study carried out in the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands linked news avoidance to elevated levels of perceived wellness.
However, the issue arises when individuals choose to cut themselves off from the news completely under the presumption that someone else will sort out the facts for them. Unfortunately, in a democratic society, this equals giving up both the right and obligation to scrutinise our leaders.
One could question how we can ascertain effective governing of our countries or the selection of right leaders, if we are uninformed about the candidates and unaware of the problems they intend to solve?
Amid our fragmentary, algorithm-influenced ecology of information, we’re already struggling to find a consensus on what constitutes reality or truth. And while there’s fair criticism about our mainstream media entities needing to be more objective, disconnecting from them could only shroud shared truths further, leading to more widespread distortions in people’s understanding of the world around them.
Recently, I was intrigued by a graph released by Gallup, which portrayed how Americans perceive the state of crime, both in their communities and on a nationwide scale.
Information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reveals that violent crime has dropped nearly 50% from 1993 to 2022. In Gallup’s 2023 poll, a mere 17% considered the crime status in their local area to be “very” or “extraordinarily” grave. However, the situation across the US was viewed significantly more seriously – a peak 63% described it as such, nearly quadrupling the former percentage. A similar disparity in perception applies to how Americans perceive their economy’s health.
Undeniably, these distortions are often manipulated by individuals who purposely promulgate fallacies, masquerading them as facts – occasionally causing fear – and proposing simplistic, yet incorrect, solutions.
In our incredibly intense world, it might seem tempting to disconnect from reality. Unfortunately, yet again, it’s likely not the optimal choice. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024.