Avoiding The News & Social Media

As I write on Substack……

Shock, horror old curmudgeon in cow 🐄 hat photoshops glamour photo

Before launching my media rant, I need to explain myself. I am well aware that Substack is a social media platform, and I have to admit that I have replaced other social media platforms with my Substack. Can I justify it when I am writing about coming off social media? To myself, yes. Substack has made me write, read and interact more with a range of new, often younger people. I have no idea why they put up with an old curmudgeon like me. But seriously, I have met some lovely people on Substack and learnt a great deal from them. So yes, I can justify my use of Substack.

Is the news bad for our mental health? Yes, in many circumstances, and there is a lot of academic evidence to support this hypothesis. The American Psychological Association outlines several issues in its article: Media overload is hurting our mental health. Here are ways to manage headline stress. I could spend endless hours down the rabbit 🐇 warren finding further studies and research. But many will confirm the same. Plus, it will be my procrastination technique for the morning. 

Oooops, I thought I would check to see when news is good for you, but I couldn't find any. Instead, the 🐇 came up with an interesting BBC article How the news changes the way we think and behave the article headlines:

The latest research suggests that the news can shape us in surprising ways – from our perception of risk to the content of our dreams to our chances of having a heart attack.

I'll leave it there for you to peruse at your leisure.

Obsessively watching and reading the news was becoming very bad for me. It is easy to let feelings of powerlessness and despair loom across your day. When you are continually viewing and reading about the atrocities in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and elsewhere across the world. Please don't think I don't care. I genuinely care but don't have a massive magic wand to wave. The same applies to bickering, thoughtless, unscrupulous politicians, whichever political party they may be. I have always been political, with a little p and a BIG P. I will do what I can and where I can to affect change where I believe it is needed and I can have some impact. But I am now not only an old curmudgeon but a cynical one, too. I know my cynicism could rub off on others, and I would never wish to deflate others' enthusiasm. 

The other reason I have turned off the news is the content that makes me angry. There are so many bits. Where do I start? Watching politicians lying is one, dare I say - Princess Catherine or Kate is an example of overblown non-stories. Please don't shout at me. The news outlets seem to have headlines about photoshopped photos, trips to farms, and conspiracy theories. Why does it matter? We all have the right to privacy when we are ill. Medical conditions have nothing to do with national media or the general public, whoever you are. Or am I missing something? 

That leads neatly into social media. I used to check Twitter more than once a day. Now, I may check it once a week. It was making me so angry, even more than usual 😁. The relentless, vicious comments about people and to people finished me off on Twitter. An example is Janey Godley, the Glaswegian comic I mentioned a few posts ago and who I think is really funny. She has terminal cancer, hence her I'm Not Dead Yet tour. The reason for the tour's name was because of the vitriolic and threatening abuse she was getting on Twitter from incredibly nasty, stupid people. Janey is not alone; people seem to believe that if you don't agree with others, you can be as unpleasant as you can be towards them, and others will agree with you or find it amusing. Why? 

A Janey Godley voiceover for you (language warning). It brings back memories of wandering toddler days.

Facebook I do still interact with to keep up with friends, but it has never been a major part of my life.

Other social media makes me feel like a complete dinosaur. The importance of Instagram and TikTok as a business medium passed me by. Instagram I look at very occasionally but never post on, TikTok - no idea about at all, but actually isn't that as it should be?

Yes I can justify Substack although I worry where it will end up, and no I don't think I will go back to other sicial media platforms and I will try to stick with mynreduce current news consumption.

Do certain news stories affect you more than other?

If you enjoy reading my rambles and haven't already please do subscribe and share with others. My posts are free to all.