As technology advances and interconnectivity becomes more prevalent, we are constantly reminded of the abomination that is the 24-hour-news-cycle. Since the 1990’s media values have shifted away from accurate storytelling and reporting, beginning to prioritize conflict, sensationalism and political polarization.
Tragedies such as the Sept. 11 attacks only made the cycle more prevalent. Outlets responded to the audience’s anxiety by pushing as much content as possible as quickly as they could.
The situation only worsened with the start of COVID-19. Constant news of death, isolation and political strife thrust viewers into deep anxiety. News media would rather fearmonger clicks of the end of the world than do their due diligence as gatekeepers of information.
Now, TikTok, Instagram Reels and other short form media encourage sensational reporting more than ever. Algorithmic feeds encourage high traffic click-bait videos that stir conflict. Posts that received more engagement are more likely to be “fed” to other viewers. When most of this engagement comes as petty comment arguments and hate, sharing the validity of content is already questionable.
The United States is experiencing a significant mental health crisis and constant barrages of information on genocides and mass murders only multiples the situation. Audiences are tired of constant updates pushing them to blackout news all together. While ignoring the news all together might levitate news fatigue, it also traps audiences in a content bubble.
For those who immerse themselves in the 24-hour-cycle, it is easy to fall into a spiral of bitterness and hatred towards the world. People begin to spread their feelings of fatalism to others, feeding in to the narrative that the cycle created in the first place.
Outlets aren’t entirely to blame. Quick, sensational stories get views. Some audiences are only looking for sensationalism and hard news. But when most content warns of doomsday, it is difficult to remember that the true proportion of positive and negative events is far more balanced than it seems.
