Why We Should Not Watch Quite so Much News

We're always being told that the sign of a good and intelligent person is someone who keeps up with the news. But this addiction to the latest events may be a kind of illness that cuts us off from the real insights and information we need to lead good lives.

FURTHER READING

“We know that we must, to lay claim to any respectability or competence, keep up with the news. That’s why we’ve ringed the earth with satellites, crisscrossed it with fiber optic cables, and created networks of bureaus that inform us with maniacal urgency of pretty much any event to have unfolded anywhere on the planet in the last few moments. We are, furthermore, equipped with tiny devices that we keep very close to hand, and which we tend to check at intervals of between one and five minutes (rarely longer) so as to monitor all unfolding stories in close to real time. We have been granted a ringside seat on the second by second flow of history…”

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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Kathrin Steinbacher

Sound Design and Music by
Matias Torress #TheSchoolOfLife

[bathorybill]

I stopped watching the news, all news, about 5 years ago and even got rid of cable. Since then I've lost nearly a hundred pounds, I'm happier and nicer to other people and my whole general health has improved. Shutting all that poison out was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

[YKing-zrdi]

I stopped following the news after the Las Vegas shootings. I also use snapchat and other social media less too.
Ever since then my life has been very positive and peaceful. I feel that info overload had a negative effect on me.

[RedIria]

Our minds did not evolve to be panicked about events happening on the other side of the globe. You're letting things that have no direct effect on you to spill over into your reality and affect your mood, life, and relationships. From tragedy in the Congo, to Ads that make you unhappy about what you already have, to shows that make your own relationships / family / friends feel inadequate. Cut the cord folks. Step into reality.

[royturv]

I haven’t watched the news or read a newspaper since I retired 10 years ago, & I don’t miss it one bit

[erinbower]

I don't watch the news, because it's depressing!

[williamoleary]

It's crazy how many "intellectuals" we have in this comment section mentioning how we shouldn't stop watching the news and then interjecting as to why with the very reasons the video was pointing out.

"Why we should not *WATCH* the news" isn't saying you should stop consuming current events altogether. The point of the video is to show that although some of this news may directly affect us and be issues/situations we may have an impact on/can change, we are mostly consumed by current events that have little to no bearing on our own lives or even the people we care about.
- EXAMPLE: Did that offensive tweet from the POTUS adversely affect your life? How about that accusation of sexual misconduct against that celebrity? Did the financial collapse of a small South African country warrant you taking the time out of your day and sharing on social media? How about the active shooter at that mall in :insert city on the other side of the country: - all things that you know happen daily without being told about them, yet need to be a topic of discussion even though there is no correlation between your world and another.

I'm sure we could easily cherry pick one or two instances where the above examples MIGHT have an impact on a certain individual, demographic, etc - but what the video is getting at is how we are constantly flooded with all of the worlds issues as well as people suggesting that we combat, rectify, change, etc these issues when we ourselves have a hard enough time coming to grips with correcting our own problems/short comings.

In summation - The majority (not all) of the news cycle is only useful to a person as a distraction from their own problems. You are worried about the world and other peoples issues when you yourself know that keeping your OWN world balanced is hard enough as it is. It's simply easier to point the finger elsewhere and demand change. Pick and choose your battles, but never let your own issues fall to the wayside.

[kobathedread]

The problem with 24 hour news is that in reinforces a position of helplessness with us, which can only be cured by watching more rolling news about events that are fundamentally meaningless to our lives. It is a vicious circle we need to free ourselves from as it is only a surefire path to unhappiness gained from the superficial knowledge we have acquired through staring at a screen.

[infinitemaku]

Those who are unsubbing over a video, take a deep breath and contemplate over what you just said. If you watched and understood the video, they're saying not to stop watching the news as a whole, but understand that events and news do not feel sympathy for the viewers. The news brings a plethora of emotions. For me, one of them is the feeling of uselessness. With everything going on in the world, just taking a moment and realizing that there's nothing you can do about it brings me to tears. I hope that example helps.From, some everyday person

[JerichoAndFriends]

The key is to have moderation in all things.

[sanjanatak]

I never watch any news. It gives me anxiety, sadness and fear.
But i am helpless bcoz in every competitive exam they ask current issues so i started watching news now.

[nirau]

"Stop watching the news!
Because the news contrives to frighten you
To make you feel small and alone
To make you feel that your mind isn't your own"

[Moribus_Artibus]

Amazingly well put. We see this same advice in Proust and Flaubert. The news is the blues. It prevents us from seeing ourselves, from appreciating life

[yaeli_i_guess]

Because the news contrives to frighten you, to make you feel small and alone, to make you feel that your mind isn't your own.

[scousegeeks]

Great vid, I stoped watching the news about 3-4 months ago after watching it everyday for as long as I can remember, I’ve never been happier all the crap on the news I can’t do a thing about it’s going to happen regardless of my action, so I don’t care for the news, I now did in once a week or every few weeks see what’s going on an think to my self wow what a load of shite, i now can’t believe I wasted so much time worrying about things I have zero influence to change or effect, now I focus more on he things I can actually change an influence

[GoTFCanada]

The problem with watching news-related videos is that news-anchors and reporters provide their opinions which are then assumed as fact. News companies are also never held accountable whenever something that they predict will happen in the future does not manifest itself. We spend so much time "being in the know" when really we were never that more knowledgeable of the present or the future to begin with

[hamfood]

Oh, I loved this one. I couldn't get one minute without bookmarking the video, sharing the video, liking the video; this type of video is so important - talking about these types of issues could save lives~

[theaxisofinsight]

We're flooded with so much news in a day that we can't remember what happened yesterday! And with Facebook and Twitter, everyone claims to be a news agent.

[jemmajane]

That includes Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - junkfood for the intellect and crack for the panademic of every-kind-of wannabee screaming for attention.

[cryptidghoul]

This animation must have take so long to make. Nice job whoever made it.

[jonathanz]

Exactly. Our attention has been wasted on too much things and events that are so irrelevant to our surroundings and real concerns. Once I tried to delibrately keep away from news and social media in a distance, even feelings like being bored became more inviting and approachable: it actually propells you to seek a way out or at least hones your senses to be more acute rather than being stuck in a state of self-comforting satisfaction.