I seldom watch television news. Not because I don’t care about what’s happening in the world, but because I noticed how upset I was getting every time I turned it on. It didn’t matter which channel I chose. The stories were always heavy, repetitive, anxiety producing, and depressing.
Television news has a way of pulling us in. We sit there like a captive audience, flipping from one station to the next, hoping for something different, but it’s always the same: bad things happening to people around the world. Most of it doesn’t affect my daily life, yet it still weighs me down.
News or Entertainment?
At some point, I started asking myself: When did the news stop being about facts and start becoming entertainment? These programs don’t just report; they package, frame, and dramatize. They decide what gets covered and how it’s presented and that, in turn, shapes how we see the world.
It almost feels like they’re saying: This is what everyone thinks. This is the majority view. But is it really? And if we see things differently, does that automatically make us part of some “minority opinion”?
The Commercials
(Pictures created by AI, not a real drug)
Then there are the commercials. The same ads over and over, especially for medications. The visuals show smiling, thriving people while a hushed voice quietly lists side effects and risks. The happy images overshadow the warnings. The message is clear: trust the visuals, ignore the fine print. Caveat emptor:let the buyer beware.
It’s unsettling to realize how much influence news outlets and advertisers can have over our mood, perceptions, and even our health decisions.
Taking Control Back
So, I made a change. I now get my news online. I choose my sources, compare different viewpoints, and decide how much I want to take in. It feels healthier. No more dramatic headlines or looping footage designed to keep me hooked. Instead, I read, reflect, and move on.
Surprisingly, I feel more informed this way because I’m not stuck in the echo chamber of television news.
Just Wondering…
Sometimes I wonder if we’ve unknowingly allowed ourselves to “dumb down.” Have we traded critical thinking for passive consumption? Maybe it’s time more of us tuned out the noise and reclaimed our perspective.
Information is everywhere. But how we use it and how much of it we let in is up to us.
What About You?
Do you avoid the news, limit it, or take it all in? I’d love to hear how you navigate the constant flood of information. Feel free to share your thoughts with me at DrKimmel@Kimmelpsychology.com.
