Experts Warn of News Fatigue in the 24/7 Digital Age

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a constant barrage of breaking news, social media updates, and endless headlines — you're not alone. Experts say it's a growing phenomenon called news fatigue, and it's affecting more people than ever in the digital age.

“News fatigue is defined as a state of emotional and mental exhaustion,” said Dr. Don Grant, a media psychologist and National Advisor of Healthy Device Management at Newport Healthcare. “It’s caused by consuming or being exposed to a large amount of news, especially negative or distressing news.”

With smartphones in nearly every hand and 24/7 news updates on countless platforms, the line between staying informed and feeling drained is becoming harder to manage. Dr. Grant says the rise of social media has created a constant stream of headlines — often with little context and from questionable sources.

“Every day, there are more platforms supplying us with news — whether it's legitimate or not,” Grant explained.

But he says there are ways to manage news fatigue without disconnecting entirely. The first step? Be intentional about when and how you consume news.

“Limit your exposure,” Grant advised. “Please do not check your news the second you wake up or right before you go to bed. If there’s something unsettling, it could jar your entire day.”

Another key tip: it’s okay to unplug.

“Anything on a digital platform is there forever,” Grant said. “You will miss nothing. You can always take a break.”

The message from experts is clear — you don’t need to consume every headline to stay informed. Taking time to protect your peace of mind may be the healthiest headline of all.

Credit: CNN Newsource

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