Why We Like Bad News

Even if we say we prefer good news, we're wired to pay more attention to bad news.
And while it might feel like the world is becoming a more scary, dangerous place, many things are actually better now than ever, and social media might be the antidote to our fears.

Hosted by: Hank Green
----------

----------
Huge thanks go to the following Patreon supporters for helping us keep SciShow free for everyone forever:

Adam Brainard, Greg, Alex Hackman, Sam Lutfi, D.A. Noe, Piya Shedden, KatieMarie Magnone, Scott Satovsky Jr, Charles Southerland, Patrick D. Ashmore, charles george, Kevin Bealer, Chris Peters
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?
----------
Sources:

Images:

[uss_]

Alt Title: This is why we cant have nice things.

[Peelandplan]

"Hope for the best; prepare for the worst." Hasn't failed me in all my life.

[renatanovato]

Once, the cover page of a newspaper had only good news. As I usually did, in the morning, on the bus to work, I only read the front page and That day I was happier, I wanted to do more things, help others. Just later that day, when I was reading the rest of the newspaper was that I realized the cover page, was not the real cover page but an ad from a bank. Anyway, that ad made my day!

[Ngamotu]

So essentially, we pay more attention to negative things, because if we ignore or forget them we don't learn and hence are doomed to repeat them.

[regalcartoon]

“I believe if you just go by the nightly news, your faith in all mankind will be the first thing you lose.”

- Luke Bryan, Country Singer

[beachcheeseburgerdoingyoga]

“Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.”
- Douglas Adams

[Jebusmike]

Unless you can go out and make a difference yourself, don't pay too much mind to the news. That will only hinder your ability to become powerful enough to actually make change in the future. I'm NOT religious but the serenity prayer rings true here: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

[GameTesterBootCamp]

The negative news isn't what I have a huge problem with. It's the fabricated rage. It's the taking of limited information, and twisting it into a rancor inducing article designed, not to inform, but to pit people against each other. THOSE are the article that should be railed against. We need to come together as a people because many publications are profiting in us doing the opposite.

[MelanieTheVegan]

I'm studying psychology at university and we just recently covered attention. What I thought was interesting is the "weapon focus effect" in which a threatening stimulus is likely to hold a persons attention. This explains why people can get information wrong about a traumatic event but usually they have a very accurate memory of the weapon.

[Peanutjoepap]

George Carlin: “I kinda like it when a lot of people die.”

[CaptainJack]

Lack of objectivity in negative reporting can make it terribly difficult to function at all for some people, let alone try to fix the problems. Presentation can be important when it comes to being aware of bad things.

[axxxonn]

I assumed it was because the average viewer compares the bad news to their life. Their life is more positive than the negative news, giving a sense of superiority and safety.

[kittycat]

It's not that we like bad news, it's that we don't like it, which makes us respond to it more.

[cardquest]

Posts sad content on ig: Makes viewers feel sad

Posts happy content on ig: Makes viewers feel sad b/c they’re not as happy

**Insert bad luck Brian meme here**

[IntermarkGroupAgency]

Great points about social media. Social media is active, not passive. It's two-way communication.

[Mandiness]

Is this why some people complain that wholesome or positive news isn’t “real” news?
I’ve always wondered why some people get really agitated if news channels focus on something more lighthearted every once in a while. 🤔

[thomas.]

I think the truly difficult things we'll have the most trouble dealing with are those that we're not talking/worried about now. In a weird sense, worrying about something means you'll likely do something about it which solves it. A problem which you don't recognise as one, on the other hand...

[tterMom]

I have lots of anxiety, so I've been working on reminding myself of the positive when I start focusing on the negative. It helps. :)

[OlOleander]

This reminds me of a great album title by Modest Mouse: "Good News for People Who Like Bad News"

[vladtheimpaler]

I feel like whatever Hank Green may accomplish in the future he will always be remembered for Sci Show. He could win a Nobel prize and people would still greet him on the street as "Hey you are the guy from SciShow"