We’re All Addicted, Including Me
Look, I’m gonna be honest here. I’m a news junkie. It’s a problem. I wake up at 5:30 AM, and the first thing I do is grab my phone and check the headlines. By 6:15, I’ve already gone down three rabbit holes. It’s completley out of hand.
Last Tuesday, my friend Marcus (let’s call him that) asked me, “Why do you do this to yourself?” I told him, “I don’t know, man. It’s like a car crash. You can’t look away.” He said, “That’s messed up.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing: I’m not alone. We’re all addicted. It’s 2023, and news is the new tobacco. We know it’s bad for us, but we can’t stop.
Why Can’t We Quit?
About three months ago, I tried to quit cold turkey. I lasted 36 hours. Thirty-six. That’s pathetic. I mean, people quit heroin colder than that. But news? Nope. Couldn’t do it.
I talked to a colleague named Dave about this. He said, “It’s the dopamine, man. Every time you see a breaking news alert, your brain goes, ‘Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!'” And he’s right. It’s like a slot machine in your pocket.
And don’t even get me started on social media. It’s the worst. You open Twitter, and it’s just a firehose of news and outrage. It’s exhausting. I’m physicallyy drained by 9 AM some days.
The Algorithm Trap
Here’s the kicker: the algorithms know we’re addicted. They feed us more and more sensationalist crap because that’s what keeps us engaged. It’s a vicious cycle.
I read a study once—okay, fine, I skimmed it—about how news algorithms contribute to anxiety. 214 respondents reported higher stress levels after consuming news on social media. Shocking, right? Not really.
But here’s the thing: we can’t just blame the algorithms. We’re complicit. We keep scrolling. We keep clicking. We keep feeding the beast.
What Can We Do About It?
So, what’s the solution? I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure anyone does. But I have some ideas.
First, we need to be more mindful about our news consumption. That’s easier said than done, but it’s a start. Maybe set aside specific times for news, like during lunch or in the evening. And for the love of god, stop checking your phone first thing in the morning.
Second, we need to diversify our news sources. Don’t just rely on one outlet. Read stuff from different perspectives. It’s good for the brain, like eating vegetables or something.
And third, we need to talk about this more. We need to admit that we have a problem. It’s like the first step in a 12-step program. “Hi, I’m Sarah, and I’m a news addict.”
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A Tangent: The Rise of Fake News
Speaking of news, let’s talk about fake news for a second. It’s everywhere. And it’s getting worse. I remember when I was in Austin for a conference, and someone told me about this crazy story they read. It was completley made up, but they believed it hook, line, and sinker.
I asked them, “How do you know it’s true?” They said, “It was on the internet, so it must be true.” I facepalmed so hard I think I gave myself a mild concussion.
But here’s the thing: fake news isn’t going away. It’s only gonna get worse. So we need to be more critical consumers. We need to fact-check. We need to think before we share.
And if all else fails, just remember: if it sounds too good (or too bad) to be true, it probably is.
Anyway, I’m gonna wrap this up. I’ve rambled enough for one day. But remember: we’re all in this together. We’re all addicted. We’re all struggling. But if we talk about it, maybe we can find a way out.
About the Author: Sarah Johnson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s written for major publications and has a love-hate relationship with news consumption. When she’s not editing or writing, she can be found drinking too much coffee and complaining about the state of journalism.
