Why 40% of people are avoiding the news — and what psychology says about it

A growing number of people around the world are deliberately turning away from the news, not because they are indifferent, but because constant exposure to negative information is becoming emotionally exhausting.

According to the 2025 Digital News Report released by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, nearly 40 per cent of people globally now say they sometimes or often avoid the news — the highest level ever recorded. In Canada alone, 69 per cent reported occasionally disengaging from news consumption.

Psychologists say the trend reflects a deeper neurological reality rather than a decline in civic awareness. Researchers studying human behaviour argue that the modern information ecosystem is overwhelming a brain that evolved to respond primarily to immediate, local threats.

At the centre of this explanation is what scientists call the “negativity bias,” a widely studied psychological phenomenon showing that humans process negative information more intensely than positive experiences. Across decades of cognitive research, the brain has consistently been shown to detect threats faster, react more strongly to bad news and remember distressing information longer.

From an evolutionary perspective, this response once helped humans survive. Paying attention to danger — such as predators, conflict or scarcity — increased the chances of survival. Missing a threat could be fatal, while overreacting merely cost a few moments of caution.

However, experts argue that the same survival mechanism is now being stretched beyond its limits in the digital age.

Unlike earlier generations that mainly dealt with nearby social and environmental risks, modern audiences are exposed to a nonstop stream of global crises — wars, climate disasters, economic instability, violence and political conflict — often within minutes of waking up.

A study published in Nature Human Behaviour analysing over 105,000 news headlines found that negative language significantly increased click-through rates, while positive wording reduced engagement. Researchers say this creates a feedback loop where emotionally distressing content receives greater visibility online.

Some psychologists have described extreme forms of compulsive news engagement as “Problematic News Consumption” (PNC), a condition linked to anxiety, stress and disruptions in daily functioning. Studies suggest individuals experiencing severe levels of PNC report substantially poorer mental well-being.

Researchers also note that news fatigue can be especially intense for immigrant and minority communities, who may experience repeated exposure to stories involving violence, discrimination or instability affecting their countries or communities of origin.

At the same time, experts caution that complete disengagement from credible journalism is not a healthy solution. Democracies rely on informed citizens, and withdrawing entirely from reliable information may increase vulnerability to misinformation and manipulation.

Instead, psychologists recommend developing healthier news habits. Suggested strategies include limiting news intake to specific times of the day, prioritising in-depth reporting over endless social media scrolling and avoiding “rage bait” — emotionally provocative online content designed mainly to trigger outrage and maximise engagement.

Mental health researchers also stress the importance of distinguishing between awareness and control. Studies show that stress increases when individuals feel informed about problems but powerless to influence outcomes. Identifying small, meaningful actions connected to issues in the news can help reduce feelings of helplessness.

Experts believe the challenge is no longer simply staying informed, but learning how to engage with information in a more intentional and psychologically sustainable way in an era of constant digital exposure.