'I don’t need to know every time somebody dies'

Catalina comes from Chile and is pursuing a Master’s in Cultural History and Heritage at UU. She remembers the exact moment she decided to avoid the news. She had just woken up and was about to have a cup of coffee in her parental home, where the TV was always on. “It was just something we had on the background,” she recollects. 

Russia had just invaded Ukraine and the news coverage was dominated by images of bombings and families trying to escape the country. “I just wanted to have my breakfast and the first thing I heard was about people dying. It was so overwhelming, hearing the same horrible things over and over again, nonstop. I said: ‘I can’t. I just can’t. I understand something terrible is happening, but I don’t need to know every time somebody dies. This is not helping my mental health.’”

Catalina has never had a TV since moving out of her parents’ three years ago. She’s never read a newspaper since, either. Today, she only follows a couple of news accounts on Instagram, such as Euronews. “I know Instagram is not always the most reliable source of information, but it is a fast way to receive news. It doesn’t even take a second," she says. However, most of the news she hears about is brought to her by friends and family.

When asked if her mental health has improved as a result of this sparse news diet, she answers: “Absolutely. Ignorance is bliss. I’m spending less time on things I can’t change.” 

Record high
Catalina is not alone. A Groningen University student recently wrote on UKrant that many of her friends barely read the news. “In a world where every headline feels like a crisis, it’s no wonder so many of us feel this way,” she writes. 

This is a worldwide trend. A survey of 20 countries (including the Netherlands) conducted by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism shows that news avoidance has reached a record high in 2024, with 39 percent of people feeling “worn out” by the “relentless” news cycle. That’s 10 percentage points higher than in 2017. 

According to Reuters, the reasons for avoiding the news vary. Like Catalina, many are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and do it to preserve their mental health. Others just find the news repetitive and boring.  

In the Netherlands, a survey by the Commissionership for the Media (CvdM) reveals that 40 percent of people consider the news “tiring”, up from 20 percent five years ago. In another survey, focused on young people, the commissionership found that 20 percent of people aged 16-24 describe themselves as “someone who avoids the news as much as possible.” 

“Our brains struggle to process this information overload”

Photo: Shutterstock

Vicious circle
Catalina’s story is also emblematic of a generational difference. According to CvdM, 30 percent of people aged 40-65 in the Netherlands start their day by checking a traditional news outlet. Only 2 percent of people aged 16-24 do the same.

Their day actually starts with social media. To 78 percent of young respondents in the CvdM study, a social media app is among the first three they open each day. In addition, 58 percent of people aged 16-24 get their news solely through social media, against 39 percent of respondents aged 40 to 65.

Stepping away from her parents’ habits and restricting her news diet to social media made Catalina feel better. For others, however, the constant stream of updates on social media is exactly what triggers their news fatigue. There is no separate time for news anymore: images of war, famine and conflict can hit you at any given moment. Student psychologist Femke van Veelen – van Haaren explains that social media can provide “a welcome escape from reality, a temporary retreat into a bubble of beautiful images” for some, but for others, it can be overwhelming. “Our brains struggle to process this information overload, which can lead to feelings of anxiety,” she says. 

When that happens, the human brain has a hard time distinguishing between immediate, personal threats and global events far away. “The body releases cortisol, triggering stress, regardless of the actual danger,” explains the psychologist. When people are worried about a particular issue, they might find themselves constantly seeking out more information about it. “This can create an illusion of control, but in reality, it often makes it harder to step away.” As a result, they nudge the algorithm into showing them even more posts on that topic, in a vicious circle.

“People will say that you live under a rock all the time, which, in a way, you are”

Awkward
Dutch student Mireille, who is pursuing a Master’s in Literature, is no stranger to information overload. Before coming to Utrecht, she studied Communication in Groningen, which required a high news intake. “We had to familiarise ourselves with social media and how it works,” says the student. “But it was stressing me out. It felt like a wave was washing over me and I didn’t actually learn anything that was going on.” That’s why she decided to stop consuming news altogether for a while.

Mireille too felt that her mental health improved after that. “I definitely felt less overwhelmed on a daily basis.” On the other hand, she had to deal with feelings of awkwardness and guilt. “Somebody will bring up something that’s all over the news and you’ll just stand there, like: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ People will say that you live under a rock all the time, which, in a way, you are.” She also felt bad for not knowing about tragedies happening around the world because turning away from them is a privilege.

Catalina can relate. She admits to sometimes feeling “lost in the middle of nowhere” and “super naïve” but she doesn’t mind asking people to enlighten her when they mention something she is not aware of. She says her friends don’t judge her for not staying on top of the news. “I’m not the only one anyway. Everyone is busy.” Which brings her to another reason for avoiding the news: “I don’t have the time or energy to do it right now. I need to read so many books for my Master’s. At the end of the day, I’m, like, tired of words.”

Photo: Pexels

“Negative stories are the exception, not the norm”

Mireille is now building up her news consumption in a “healthy and practical” way. She only watches the 8:00 pm news on TV.  She also stopped using most social media apps. “The only one I have is Instagram, but it is not my main source of information.” When asked how that’s impacting her wellbeing, she admits: “To be honest, it does bum me out a little bit every time I watch it.” 

According to Reuters, the negative nature of the news cycle is among the main reasons for people to avoid the news. In the Netherlands, no less than 59 percent of young people find the news too negative, informs CvdM.

“Media outlets are well aware that our brains respond strongly to negative news, which is why some of them often present a steady stream of shocking stories,” observes psychologist van Veelen – van Haaren. “Keep in mind that what you see in the news is not a complete reflection of reality. Negative stories are the exceptions, not the norm.”

Mireille does not think the news is negative on purpose. “It can be very depressing because there are a lot of bad things going on in the world.” She’s noticed, however, that most comments are negative even when the news is positive. “It’s almost as if people want the news to be bad.”

She is interested in journalism and has been working as a freelancer in that field. “I always try to write about silver linings, even though that doesn’t seem to be what people want.”

Catalina agrees. Asked about what should change in the media, she says she’d like to see more positivity. “I saw a post the other day about a nearly extinct hippo that was born in the Edinburgh Zoo. Does that help you? Absolutely not. But it makes you happy.” She would also like the news to relate more to her own life and surroundings. 

“The assumption is that young people are less interested in the news, but the media landscape has changed so much that we should approach this in a new way,” says Sophie Duvekot, who researches news consumption in a digital context at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU). “They are not necessarily less interested, they just consume news differently. They don’t have to look for the news because the news comes to them," she explains.

“There is often a disconnect between what news organisations are doing and what young people want,” ponders Duvekot. “They should try to understand young people better. How does their idea of newsworthiness differ from that of young people?” According to her, Catalina’s wish for news that relates to her personal life is common among people her age. “Catering to that wish could reduce their feelings of powerlessness.” 

Photo: Shutterstock

What to do if you’re getting too distressed by the news
Six tips from student psychologist Femke van Veelen – van Haaren:

1. Choose your sources carefully 
Avoid sensationalist news, clickbait, and overly dramatic reporting designed to trigger fear. That’s why one should be wary of relying on social media alone for information, as engagement-based algorithms tend to favour such content.

2. Set limits for your news intake
Check the news only once or twice a day and switch off notifications. You might also want to set boundaries for how much time you spend checking the news and social media.

3. No news in bed
Avoid scrolling through news feeds first thing in the morning or right before bed, as this is when your brain is more vulnerable to stress and least capable of putting things into perspective.

4. Less hard news, more in-depth content
Prioritise explainers, in-depth articles, documentaries and podcasts about topics that interest you. This may help you understand the news better and thus feel less overwhelmed.

5. Talk about it
If you still feel anxious, talk about it with friends and family. Don’t bottle it up. Discussing your worries with others can be relieving and helpful. If you’re struggling with persistent anxiety, consider seeking professional support. Talking to a counsellor or therapist can help you develop coping strategies and gain insight into your feelings.

6. Prioritise positive activities
Make time for things that bring you joy and energy, such as spending time in nature, exercising, engaging in hobbies, and nurturing your social connections.