Accessing news has never been easier, but for many people, that's exactly the problem. Oversaturated with information and constant updates, more and more people around the world are choosing to "disconnect." The decision to limit or stop watching news comes for a variety of reasons. For some, the amount of information is overwhelming, for others, negative headlines affect their psychology, or there is a lack of trust in the media.
In mindfulness and mental health forums, many discuss ways to take a step back: from setting boundaries to completely removing news from their daily lives.
"Since I first stopped watching the news, I don't feel anxious anymore. I'm not afraid," Mardette Burr, a retiree from Arizona who first stopped watching the news about eight years ago, told the Guardian.
"There were nights when I would wake up at two or three in the morning worried about something that was happening in the world and I had no control over it."
This trend is not just about individuals. Globally, news avoidance is at record levels. According to an annual survey by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, published in June 2025, 40% of respondents in nearly 50 countries say they avoid the news sometimes or often, up from 29% in 2017. In the US, the figure is 42% and in the UK, 46%. The main reason people avoid the news is its negative effect on mood. Many also feel exhausted by information overload, extensive coverage of wars and conflicts, or feel they can’t do anything with the information.
Julian Burrett, a marketing expert from the United Kingdom, explains to the same media that he consciously stopped watching the news after the pandemic because he felt addicted to the constant negative information. He deleted most news apps from his phone and did not follow their broadcasts on TV.
Psychologist Roxane Cohen Silver, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, has studied the effects of news consumption in crises, from 9/11 and the Covid-19 pandemic to natural disasters and mass shootings. As she explains, “continuous exposure to negative news increases anxiety, depression, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. In recent years, political polarization has been a key factor in psychological stress, while disturbing images and videos contribute to the emotional burden of news.
To protect your mental health, Silver suggests setting specific times for reading the news, avoiding videos and social media, and subscribing to newsletters or digests from trusted sources.
Benjamin Toff, director of the Minnesota Journalism Center, distinguishes between those who avoid the news entirely and those who limit their consumption. The latter is "absolutely healthy," he says, noting that complete disengagement can reinforce social inequalities, leaving some groups out of political life or understanding important events.
News avoidance is more common among young people and socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
