Psychologists are noticing increased stress in our world populace related to ubiquitous negative news. Themes of client projective works express an enduring focus on negative news stories. People may not identify it immediately, but eventually realize that media saturation is affecting their mood. Studies demonstrate that the more people scrolled negative news, the more distressed they become (Hwang, J. et al, 2021).

Rather than getting updates from TV or the newspaper, 86% of US adults receive their news through digital platforms (Pew Research Center, 2021). The youngest Americans (ages 18-29) are the most likely to attain digital news from social media. Pessimistic online headlines have a heightened emotional effect due to intense delivery. Some Internet news forums may contain “click-bait,” which are characterized by sensationalism intended to elicit clicks to generate website traffic. Because social media sites are so competitive, they are designed to be addictive. Checking social platforms has become a mindless habit. One really does not consider what they are doing. Doomscrolling and headline anxiety are a distinct kind of anguish. So-called doomscrolling elicits anticipatory anxiety related to uncertainty or fear of the unknown. We think the more we know, the safer we will be.

Social media systems should feel a responsibility to safeguard our wellbeing. However in the current environment, social networks are self-regulated and often place greater emphasis on generating profits than on protecting users from destructive language. In the United States, the law treats social media as an extension of print media, where the First Amendment is fiercely protected. This classification asserts that online communication will continue to be largely unregulated.

Excess emersion in social media is unwise. We become overwhelmed when spending hours online seeking answers. The mind is not constructed to process an oversaturation of discouraging material and millions of digital comparisons. When people become flooded with too much data, one response is to ‘give up,’ which can lead to learned helplessness. This manifestation of learned helplessness is related to a person’s belief in their ability to reach a goal. In this case, finding the correct piece of information that satisfies a sense of safety in what we perceive to be an unsafe world. An impression of powerlessness that comes with a perceived lack of control over a particular outcome can lead to depression. It is important to proactively take control over our wellbeing and lessen the effect of learned helplessness.

How to tell if headline exposure is influencing your state of mind?

· An awareness of body tension and elevated heart rate before or after
checking news.

· Intrusive thoughts about headlines you have read throughout the day.

· Increased anger, arguing and anxiety related to an underlying sense of
powerlessness.

· Your capacity to cope well is diminished.

· Increased alcohol consumption.

How to manage headline stress:

Evaluate the probability of an event or outcome to realistically grasp the risk. For example, how likely are you really to be killed being struck by lightning? The chance of this event is low.

Talk to young people about what they see and hear online or via peers.
Have them list their fears and jot down a list of capable adults that would
help in an emergency. This process can let them know they are supported and are not alone in the world’s problems.

Lower anxiety over negative events by writing headline worry down on paper to apply logic and slow processing speed.

Be proactive about concerning issues by volunteering. Example: If climate change is getting you down, get involved in advocacy to do something about it. Put yourself in control and power. More scrolling will not solve problems.

By being less passive and more in charge, you are managing your worries and lowering anxiety.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/11/strain-media-overload

Suzette Turner-Clark, LCSW-S, RPT/S, RYT-200