Jochen Adler

This made me think...

Several people told me how they consciously, significantly reduced their consumption of news. The #climate, #COVID, war in #Ukraine...: checking their smartphone became obsessive-compulsive. Some now avoid news altogether.

Has our world become too complex for us to cope with?

Are you suffering from obsessive news consumption and fear of missing out? What's your secret to a healthy, balanced information diet?

#cocon23 #FOMO #mentalHealth
#media #journalism #research

May 26, 2023 at 7:30amWeb
Show threadMaike KüperMay 26, 2023
@jndlr I started limiting my news consumption after a few weeks into the Ukraine war. It felt weird in the beginning, like I was responsible for seeing it all, but it really impacted my mind and that doesn’t help anyone. It‘s been like that since then. A couple minutes every 2-3 days, plus the headlines I see on Twitter and deep-dives when I feel like it. It’s important to me to be in the loop, but I stay away from the over-emotional, breaking news discussions and it‘s been good.
Show threadJochen AdlerMay 27, 2023
@MaiKueper Interesting, thanks. I've noticed, for me, that *timing* and a conscious *time gap* make all the difference. When a "breaking news" alert hits, I quickly judge if/how I will be personally affected. (In 99% of cases, of course: not at all). Then, I wait for a couple days before reading the much more thoughtful, well-rounded, multi-faceted reportages, analyses, and opinion pieces. I've found that monthly and weekly publications suit me much better than "always-on" digital news sites.
Show threadMaike KüperMay 27, 2023
@jndlr Yeah, good point, I also tend to read the in-depth reporting a bit later if it matters.
Show threadCatherine SchmidtMay 26, 2023
@jndlr it is important to take a break not just from the news but the from the inner world of electronic devices. We have a whole world out there suffering from loneliness. That said, what is going on is history and too important. I take weekends off and only an hour or two in the morning reading the news, not watching it.😊
Show threadJochen AdlerMay 27, 2023
@lillyfinch That seems true. Thank you. However, looking at myself, but even more so, my children, I find it amazing how our "electronic devices" make it possible to experience developments in distant parts of the worlds, and maintain deep relationships with people on other continents. Taking breaks and maintaining a healthy balance, as you say, is what it can be boiled down to.
Show threadCatherine SchmidtMay 28, 2023
@jndlr yes the social network can be wonderful. There probably would not have been such a successful Women’s March in 2017 without it. To have “friends” of connection around the world is also wonderful. We just have to be careful.