Mean world syndrome

I believe it was through an ethics in journalism college course I was in years ago that I first came across the term “mean world syndrome” in a text book.

The name, itself, jumped out at me, but I think I also remember it all these years later because I found the idea intriguing on how one’s media consumption impacts the way we perceive the world around us.

In a nutshell, mean world syndrome refers to the psychological phenomenon where people perceive the world as a more dangerous and hostile place than it actually is, primarily due to heavy exposure to violent, negative or anxiety-inducing content in mass media, like news or television shows, which disproportionately portray negative events.

I think the idea especially resonated with me because I’ve seen it unfold right in front of me. Paranoia, fear and hate — all amplified by the rapid rise of misinformation, which is spread faster than ever before through the rise of AI and social media platforms dominating more and more of our everyday lives.

All this coupled with so much going on currently in our country and throughout the world, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, I wholeheartedly believe knowledge is power and it is crucial, a responsibility even, for people to stay informed of the world around them, especially on matters that affect society as a whole.

However, I know I’m not the only one who knows the struggle of trying to find a balance of being informed versus overwhelmed, and nowadays most of us get our news and media fix online. It’s no secret that technology has evolved faster than we can keep up with, and this impacts our psychology significantly, both consciously and unconsciously.

Our brains simply aren’t accustomed to the amount of instant access to information most of us are now consistently exposed to on a daily basis. This results in many things, including more negative thoughts, especially because a lot of media we consume revolves around conflict.

One of my favorite Youtube Channels, “Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell,” made a video on the topic explaining, “The engagement-driven social internet makes it worse because it wants to keep you online as much as possible, and the most engaging emotion, unfortunately, is anger … Social media divides us, makes us more extreme and less empathetic, it riles us up or sucks us into doom scrolling, making us stressed and depressed.” There is also a good documentary on Netflix called “The Social Dilemma” that goes into a lot more detail on this.

Though, especially as someone who works in media, I’ll be the first to say that along with all the bad, the internet, social media and media in general also have many positives, including keeping people informed and educated, bringing us joy and advancing new ideas. Also, conflict and challenging topics aren’t something that should necessarily be avoided. In fact, it’s important we be aware of difficult realities, but like with anything in life, balance and awareness is key.

Some ideas to have a healthier approach to media consumption include setting time limits and dedicating specific blocks of time each day to consume news and avoid constant scrolling.

Also, be wary of misinformation, which is rampant online. Consuming and sharing trustworthy information is key, so before you share or engage with information you find online, especially if it seems extreme or outlandish, take steps to verify facts and how reputable of a source it is. Research the SIFT method as an example of a strategy to evaluate the reliability of information and claims.

Finally, support your local newspapers! No, this is not just a shameless plug; this is a tip I actually saw shared a lot on the topic because newspapers typically present more in-depth information and a more focused reading experience as you don’t have the option to doom scroll.

Plus, along with thoughtfully curated information on interesting and important matters, you will usually find stories about good things going on around you, which is also a key component of healthy media consumption.

This is something I especially admire about smaller, community newspapers like the News-Bulletin. We love to share all the good things happening in our community as well to provide a balanced perspective. Those are actually some of my favorite articles to write because, while the world is far from perfect, it is important to remind people that there are many people doing selfless, brave and beautiful things all around us to make it a better place.

That brings me to my next point — one of the best ways to alleviate the anxiety and be less overwhelmed by pressing challenges is to take action. The constant barrage of violence, ignorance and disaster we intake regularly on the news can make us feel powerless and defeated, but we can always do something to make the world better by contributing to positive changes in our communities, families or even in ourselves.

Be the change you want to see in the world, and contribute to the causes you’re passionate about. In Valencia County alone, there are several volunteer groups and nonprofits you can join or support that tackle a wide variety of issues.

As I read on sparkandstitchinstitute.com, an online guide for parents, “This is a challenging time. Let’s continue to look outward for information, support and perspectives. But let’s not let it crowd out much-needed time and space to recharge and look in. The challenges we are facing demand both.”