News avoidance hits record highs as constant bad news overwhelms human attention
Summary
The article explores the growing phenomenon of news avoidance, driven by an overwhelming flood of negative information. Drawing on the Reuters Institute's 2025 Digital News Report, it notes that 69% of Canadians and 40% of people globally now actively avoid the news—the highest figure ever recorded. The piece argues that while human brains evolved to pay close attention to danger, this instinct is now being overloaded by constant bad news from around the world. Rather than suggesting complete disengagement, the article advocates for building healthier habits around how, when, and where we consume news.
Source
Hacker NewsNews avoidance hits record highs as constant bad news overwhelms human attentionsciencedaily.comKey quotes
· 5 pulledThey described the feeling as standing under a waterfall of perpetual bad news.
According to Reuters Institute's 2025 Digital News Report, 69 percent of Canadians at least occasionally avoid the news now.
Globally, 40 percent report they at least sometimes or often do the same, the highest figure ever recorded.
Humans evolved to pay close attention to danger, but today that instinct is being overwhelmed by an endless supply of bad news from around the world.
Researchers say the answer isn't to stop following current events—it's to build healthier habits around how, when, and where we get our news.
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