The Daily Doomer: “Existential threats are getting worse: nuclear war, AI fears, climate change”
We are all going to die, Really Soon Now. Your dose of The Daily Doomer.
Media myth busted: Suicides do not increase at holidays
Half of recent news reports about holiday suicides spread disinformation that suicides go up over the holidays: Summary: Despite media claims that suicide rates increase dramatically over the holiday period, researchers report the average daily suicide rate during the holidays remain among the lowest rate of any period of the year. Source: University of Pennsylvania The holiday-suicide myth, the false claim that the suicide rate rises during the year-end holiday season, persisted in some news coverage through the 2021-22 holidays, according to…
Excessive news consumption leads to serious mental health problems
Says about 1 in 6 study participants show signs of mental health problems due to excessive news consumption.
NBER paper: Why Is All COVID-19 News Bad News?
91% of US news about Covid topics was negative – even when reporting on positive vaccine developments or low case counts in schools. The media learned that consumers demand negativity – I postulate this is because consumers who are suffering from hysteria and anxiety seek out news that confirms their anxiety, and that being anxious is okay.
Bad news sells
Business news reporters, who generally do a good job, also admit they believe “unfavorable articles were more likely to attract readers”. The result, across all news media, is that the news focuses on negativity and what is perceived as wrong with the world. There is rarely, ever, good news. This results in entire societies living in an unnecessary culture of perpetual outrage, fear and anxiety. This is not healthy.