The authors of a study originally published in the scientific journal Health Communication argue that what they call “problematic news consumption” can be as harmful to human health as addiction to the internet, video games or smartphones , which has already been discussed.

According to lead author Bryan McLaughlin, The continuous tracking of information can cause the recipient to be constantly alert, making the world a dark and dangerous place.

See: We are looking for objective information, but we don’t want to pay for content on the Internet

“Problematic news consumption” as an addiction

The researchers described “problematic message consumption” as a form of addiction. Their conclusions were based on a study conducted on a group of 1,100 American adults. They were asked, among other things, o the extent to which they agree with statements such as “I am so caught up in the news that I forget the world around me” or “I often don’t pay attention at school or at work because I read or watch the news.”

In addition, respondents were asked how they often experience stress or anxiety and physical ailments such as fatigue, physical pain and stomach issues from being followed by messages. About 16.5%. respondents fell into the “very problematic news consumption” category.

See: Almost half of Poles are tired of the pandemic, 43% don’t trust the media about it

However, the researchers pointed out that completely disconnecting from the information can lead to important health or safety news being overlooked and undermine the ability to be an informed citizen.

The study authors also noted that economic pressure, technological progress and the 24-hour news cycle has prompted many media professionals to focus on selecting stories that have the best chance of attracting attention, even if they do not contain high-profile news. impact.