News that stresses us out

For a user trying to determine whether information is true or false, this situation can be stressful. Uncertainty – and sometimes anxiety – arises, particularly when the news concerns health, safety or finances. An additional problem is headlines and content designed to instil fear or provoke an immediate reaction.

Stress can be triggered by economic news, such as reports of rises in energy prices, food prices or other living costs. It can also stem from reports suggesting impending economic instability, even where there is no solid basis for such claims. In such situations, the reader begins to worry ‘just in case’, even though the information was merely a forecast or a suggestion.

Content relating to security can also cause stress, for example reports of protests, strikes, blockades or alleged threats. Some of this information takes the form of predictions that are difficult to verify. When this is combined with sensationalist language and time pressure, the user may feel overwhelmed and constantly on edge.

It is worth remembering that information overload can exacerbate stress. When people are exposed to a lot of alarming content every day, they develop a growing sense that ‘something bad is always happening’. This can lower their well-being and influence their day-to-day decisions, even if the actual risk is minimal.

In such situations, ‘information hygiene’ – that is, a few simple habits – can help. A good approach is to limit the time spent browsing the news, take breaks and switch off some notifications. It also helps to choose your sources carefully, for example by using one or two trusted sites instead of checking everything across multiple apps. If a piece of news causes you great anxiety, it’s worth coming back to it only after some time has passed, once your emotions have subsided, and only then verifying it.

Mini-scenario 3:

You read a headline about ‘a certain disaster’ or an ‘immediate price rise’, but there is no clear date or source. Instead of reading more similar posts, it’s worth taking a break and then checking the news against a single trusted source. It often turns out that the headline was exaggerated or referred to a different place and time.