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Why political content keeps you awake, confused and angry – News

Why political content keeps you awake, confused and angry – News

You have just dragged yourself home after a long day. Exhausted, you collapse into bed, but your phone lights up. It is a new post on a political candidate from your favorite news blog and you cannot resist. You start scrolling, diving deeper into the endless stream of overwhelming content.  

With an election season comes a flood of information – debates, political ads, news coverage and unfortunately, an ever-growing surge of pseudo-news.  

Missouri State University communication, media, journalism and film faculty members Dr. Brian Ott and Dr. Elizabeth Dudash-Buskirk shed light on pseudo news and its effects on our mental health. 

Understanding pseudo-news 

In today’s digital age, distinguishing between news and non-news is no longer as straightforward as it once was.  

“Pseudo-news refers to opinion and commentary disguised as news but isn’t. The consumption of professional news has declined and political ‘take’ has flooded the digital landscape, causing an increase in pseudo-news,” Ott said.  

“As a result of this increase, much of what people believe is news is just opinion, contributing to the polarization of public discourse,” he added. 

Dudash-Buskirk notes polarization has led to an intensity that encourages unhealthy practices, such as doomscrolling and increased feelings of anxiety and confusion. 

“We become so confused by the divisions we’re given and made to think that something is true or factual,” she said.   

Thus, people become increasingly radicalized by the information they consume, and our mental well-being suffers. 

The river of muck  

Our digital world is like a giant river of information.  

Ott referred to it as a “river of muck,” where everything from news and selfies to conspiracy theories and political commentary flows in the same stream. 

“The biggest issue in this undifferentiated content is where most of us get our information today. We’re scrolling through social media, clicking on links and often mistaking opinionated commentary or political spin for legitimate news,” he said. 

He adds another thing to note about the “river of muck” is we only see it in parts.  

What we engage with online — whether it’s liking a post, sharing an article or commenting on a video — feeds into an algorithm that shapes the content we see next.  

This means two people, sitting in the same room, receive different streams of information.  

“Algorithms tailor what we see based on our previous actions, reinforcing our beliefs and trapping us in filter bubbles,” Ott said. 

“For one person, the river might be full of liberal outrage, while for the other, it’s conservative fury. It’s no wonder that political discourse feels so polarized right now.” 

Ott points out this is not just about exposure to different viewpoints; it is about being continuously fed content designed to keep us in a constant state of outrage. 

This feeling is exhausting and has a profound negative effect on our mental health.  

“The more time we spend online, the worse we feel, but social media is engineered to be addictive,” Ott said. 

Escaping the echo chamber  

So, how can we avoid this trap and safeguard our mental health?  

According to Ott and Dudash-Buskirk, take these four steps: 

  • Be intentional about protecting your mental health by limiting social media use and screen time. 
  • Rely on trusted and reputable sources instead of social media where news and pseudo-news are often indistinguishable. 
  • Seek out multiple perspectives to get a well-rounded view of current events. 
  • Have real conversations with people with differing opinions to challenge you to think critically. 

A call for change  

“If enough people become aware of the dangers of pseudo-news and the toxic online environment, there could be a collective push for change,” Ott said.  

 He believes news outlets should prioritize quality over sensationalism, but that requires the public to demand better.  

“In a world where facts are increasingly difficult to discern, and emotional manipulation is rampant, the fight for a healthier information environment feels more important than ever,” Ott said. “Our mental health and the future of civil discourse may very well depend on it.” 

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