AIBU if I stop watching the news or reading about current affairs?

[Billie9844]

Hello, I have never did an AIBU before but I really am unsure what to do. I am 42 was brought up in a household where newspapers were never bought, the telly was rarely on (and never for the news), and I was in a bit of a bubble. When I started preparing for exams my teachers advocated for keeping up with what was happening in the world, and I have been told that it is responsible to do so. So I have kept up with what is happening, and this has turned from buying newspapers to having 24 hour access news on the tv/internet. I pay subscriptions for a couple of newspapers.

But I work in social care, volunteer with a local group, do what I can in my bit of the world. More and more I feel worried for the future, bad about what is going on in the world and I feel that no one is benefitting from me getting depressed about what is happening. I want to go back to my bubble. But I wonder if it is responsible and I wonder if it is possible.

I honestly don't know what is more valuable to me? Keeping up to date with what is going on, or doing what I feel would make my life easier and turning off the news. I have odd days where I don't check and it is like a break in itself. I wonder what it is doing to my stress levels.

I have never had a social media account. So that is not part of it.

I would change my phone for one that only facilitates texts/calls. Keep my laptop (For checking email and doing spreadsheets). Stop watching the news. Be very selective with the forums I go onto for advice. Is that even possible now?

Go back to your bubble. You still won’t be able to miss the big things that you need to know about.

I rarely read news apps, never buy papers and never have news on the telly, I still know what’s going on in the world. Things come up on here and I have the radio on which has news updates even on the music stations. I used to have the rolling news channels on tv all the time, but I realised within a week of stopping how depressing it was.

Thank you. I actually feel better after reading your reply. It feels simple. It's become an irrational thing, every time I think about it I think it is responsible to keep informed.... but, for me, it isn't working.

A lot of news is just speculation about what might happen. If it’s getting you down, or you’re getting sucked into it too much, then just avoid it. Choose one reliable outlet that you can go to if you ever feel the need to delve more deeply, then just ban yourself from reading on a daily basis

I never watch the news, I stopped buying ‘news’ papers years ago and I was an avid reader of them since being a teenager, I’m 54 now ! I don’t miss anything, I still get to hear what’s going on in the world but it’s the more ‘important’ stuff and I’m able to filter out the rest.
This culture of rolling 24 hour news hasn’t been good for a lot of people’s mental health nor collective peace of mind … it’s almost like they want to keep us terrified as we’re easier to control then.

this is a great article OP!

www.theguardian.com/media/2013/apr/12/news-is-bad-rolf-dobelli

I don't see anything irresponsible about cutting down (or even cutting out completely!) your news consumption!

I was expecting a harsher response, so thank you I keep thinking of how judged I felt when I was young and didn't know much about what was going on... I quickly read that article @bloomflower, which is exactly what I was thinking. It is strange because I looked for articles on it a while ago and I was getting more mixed information, but that's been around for a while. So thank you for that. It's time to switch off for me.

@JoanCandy I get what you mean about being scared. I thought I could handle it, because I'm quite calm and rational 😁, but it turns out I'm not able to! (that article mentions a bit about that. I'm going back to reread it)

@MereDintofPandiculation I think I will go for a complete ban (detox?) for a while and see how I feel about one news outlet that I trust.

24 hour news is a recipe for mass depression. I remember the pre-internet novelty of going on holiday to say France and not hearing a single news story about the UK apart from the occasional glimpse of a newspaper headline on a copy of the Sun/Times in a newsagents.
It was possible to really switch off and enjoy the novelty of coming home and having to catch up with what had happened while you were away.
Just as soap operas that used to be twice weekly went down in quality when on everyday, the news media has dumbed down and has a vested interest in whipping up discontent and clicks.
Disengaging is the best thing you can probably do for your mental health....it is not normal to live like this....at the behest of beeps on your phone...

Some Headlines in the Telegraph:
'UK inflation to almost double to 18.6pc, economists warn'
I think the word 'could' would help lessen the fear factor.

'Mass Civil Service strike expected to be announced next month'

'Bank holiday traffic nightmare as millions seek ‘last hurrah’ getaway before summer ends'

None of these things has actually happened.....it is all speculation by the 'chattering classes'

I blame rolling news and twitter for much of the bad politics we have now.

Why do they rush out news bytes , debate stuff when we and they can't possibly have heard every option or read every document. Then every squeak and fart they make is headline 'news'. So they're forced along decisions they should never have made... D Cameron and Brexit a PRIME example - everyone in the S of the country knew we'd vote to stay in ...... errrrrr no

I don't blame you for wanting to ditch the news. So much of it is overhyped scaremongering and totally unnecessary. I keep up to date with things I am interested in, otherwise I just skim past or ignore completely, and I can often go a few weeks without checking at all. It's very liberating to not have so much of my time consumed by news and social media (ditched that too) I have more time to do activities that are more stimulating.

Stolen Focus by Johann Hari s a recent book about this.

One problem is that SM and online businesses needs you to stay on their page as that is how they make money.
It seems we are more likely to click on something disagreeing with your views than not - so algorithms deliberately bring up these, ranty argumentative stuff. To keep you on.
This is not good for anyone's wellbeing.

Well MN is Social Media, so you need to come off here too if you are going to do it.

@54321abcd. I remember those holidays as well! You just bypassed UK newspapers and even when you saw a headline it felt distant and like it wasn't your responsibility to know about for that second in time. You never had access to British TV either. It wasn't something that I fully appreciated at the time, but it was lovely.

You are so right about the headlines, just reading them make me feel more tense in the moment! I think I often read articles to see where the headline has exaggerated/intensified the situation, because I know from experience that it often has done.

@SaintHelena

I think that's why I am struggling more than I have done in the past. I can't trust what I read, so I go down the rabbit hole of trying to get information from different places, and from different viewpoints. Often I can spend a lot of time finding out the details of situations that have nothing to do with me or my life.

And meanwhile I get so used to reading in that format, I struggle to read a book. I need to sort it out.

Thank you both

@SaintHelena I will look up that book. I am trying to read more so it helps that it sounds relevant! I have been concerned about the information collected about me and how they access it. I dread to think the profile they could make based on my online presence. All a bit boring but definitely excessive!

@ILoveRumblyRabbit I think I am a bit compulsive with it, this article leads me to that one, and I take it all in at a deeper level than I think I will. And while I think it's an hour relaxing, it's actually an hour accumulating stress. I probably spend 20-30 hours a week on reading news/current affairs if I added it all up. It might even be higher as it often leads me to discussions on forums as well. It is hard to stop though and will take a bit of effort. This thread helps build up my level of resolution. (is that the right word?)

@KermitlovesKeyLimePie I never really think of mumsnet as social media, I have no non-anonymous social media? Anyway I will stay on for access to some boards (Elderly parents for example), but probably skip AIBU and the like. Steer clear of active boards or trending where I can etc. If it doesn't work I will come off and find a more usable forum for me.

Go back to your bubble.

Mass news created illusions which in turn create MH issues. Why do you think there is a MH crisis in the world?

YANBU

The 247 news agenda takes away from us more than it gives us.

Write down 5 life changing points or big events in your life, which really stand out. It could be something small like meeting someone who gave you advice that changed the course of your career. Or giving birth.

Now write down 5 big news events over the course of your life.

Now draw a line between any life event and news event that are connected. I bet you don’t have any lines right? The news really doesn’t have a direct impact on us beyond lowering our mood, making us less productive, more fearful and risk averse.

You’re better off listening to long form conversation podcasts or watching documentaries, reading long articles and books. Try going deeper into topics that interest you and see how you can take action locally to really bring about change. Delve deeper into politics that interest you eg around social care.

If there are big news events you will find out about them. You will notice when things change around you eg inflation and prices going up in the shops. Watching news isn’t going to provide much useful information for living your life, so you’re better off spending the c.4000 weeks you have on this earth wisely and seeking out content that interests you!

👏

Love this post.

Just control your access, catch up once a week - The Week is good.

Not having a clue isn’t responsible - living in a democracy is a privilege, and to vote responsibly and be a responsible citizen you need to have an idea what’s happening.

But consuming it constantly isn’t good for you or necessary.

I rarely watch the news. I may listen to the headlines to have a vague idea what’s going on in the world, but that’s it. To be honest, I actively switch over from the news, and even in the car, will switch to a cd (my car is that old!), for the few minutes the news is on.

I'm a psychotherapist and I stopped watching the news in early Covid days. We are bombarded with negativity through media (social and traditional) 24/7. I occasionally read The Irish Times online or go to the RTE News app - I'm in Irish living in Ireland - which keeps me sufficiently up to date in my opinion, but I choose what I read/take an interest in.