I have lately seen myself getting engrossed in the contant news cycle, especially when the world media has become so partisan. News agencies either vehemently support a leader and their policies, or the opposite. The moment I got up, I used to open google news and start scrolling, so much so that “Trump” is one of the most searched items by me. And it gave me a sense of accomplishment that I know what’s happening in today’s world, and I could get talking points with my colleagues and friends during coffee meetups.
But on closer inspection one day, it dawned on me that this is no better than watching youtube shorts, or maybe just slightly better.
Sure, reading the news probably doesn’t involve the visual/audio stimulators in the brain and the dopamine highs are probably lower than doom scrolling. But it does give you a constant feedback loop of remaining “in touch”. I don’t get bored anymore, and I miss being bored. Just sitting idle in an empty room and not watching the phone screen is what I grew up with in the 90’s. I used to stare at the walls and find patterns in wall paint texture, touch the sofa cushions or think of scenarios of how Mahabharata would have taken place. Now, my though process is just a guided stream of what the internet preaches.
I researched a Harvard study (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jul/03/electric-shock-preferable-to-thinking-says-study) where people hate being bored so much so that they would prefer to get a mild electric shock than to sit in an idle room and do nothing. Getting bored triggers the default mode network in our brain where we tend to think of the longer term questions in our life, like its purpose or long term goals. The monkey brain addicted to the internet new cycle never allows us to think of those questions and we tend to get depressed/anxious easily if we have to suddenly get in touch with those feelings due to a trigger event. Another thing I have experienced is the slight degradation of memory, remembering important concepts or inability concentrating on a technical issue for too long. So many times it happens that in longer meetings, I find myself fighting the urge of opening a new tab and scrolling youtube or some news article, rather than concentrating on the issues being discussed unless its my turn to speak.
So yes, the news cycle is not good for me. And I will try to actively give it up. So should you if you find yourself addicted to it and your experiences are similar to mine.