Experts warn that the overwhelming nature of continuous news coverage can lead to vicarious traumatisation.
Bad news can be bad for you. Amid a landscape increasingly dominated by graphic coverage of crises, experts are highlighting the psychological toll of constant news consumption on audiences. This phenomenon, referred to as vicarious traumatisation, occurs when individuals indirectly experience trauma through exposure to others’ suffering, especially via media channels.
Research indicates that while staying informed about global events has a positive impact on individuals, the depth of emotional engagement that accompanies this awareness can contribute significantly to mental health issues. The term vicarious traumatisation describes the emotional distress and anxiety that arise from witnessing the tragedies of others, which can manifest even in those who have not directly experienced traumatic events themselves.
A report in Psychology Today details key symptoms of vicarious traumatisation, including persistent feelings of sadness, anger, helplessness, intrusive thoughts about distressing events, unexplained physical symptoms, avoidance behaviours, hyperarousal and changes in worldview. Experiencing these symptoms does not imply weakness; rather, they underscore an individual’s capacity for empathy.
Empathy, while a vital human trait that fosters connection and understanding, can also become burdensome. Researchers note that “emotional contagion” happens when the same brain systems that foster empathy also permit individuals to experience others’ pain. The constant, real-time updates provided by social media and news outlets intensify this process, often resulting in emotional overwhelm.
The impacts of prolonged exposure to distressing news are significant. As individuals become subsumed by a cycle of stress, they may experience burnout and emotional numbing, which can impact their personal relationships, professional performance and overall life satisfaction.
News publishers are in the early stages of finding ways to deal with the negative impacts of what they produce and other societal trends. A notable recent experiment, which just completed its first year, was The Guardian’s Reclaim Your Brain newsletter. It encouraged users in efforts to switch off from digital devices and became the paper’s fastest-growing newsletter, with readers claiming they have cut their screen time by 40%.
We can expect many such initiatives to follow in the next few years as news organisations fight news avoidance.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://cassybayarea.org/what-if-the-news-itself-is-traumatizing/ – Corroborates the concept of vicarious traumatization and its effects on mental health due to exposure to graphic and traumatic events in the media.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_trauma_after_viewing_media – Supports the idea that vicarious trauma develops after an individual learns or hears about someone else experiencing a traumatic event, and details its symptoms and impact on mental health.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/202501/vicarious-traumatization-when-watching-tragedy-takes-a-toll – Details key symptoms of vicarious traumatization, including emotional distress, intrusive thoughts, physical symptoms, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, and changes in worldview.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifting-the-veil-trauma/202001/watching-the-news-can-be-traumatizing – Discusses how watching the news can be traumatizing and the psychological impact of media exposure on viewers, especially children.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_trauma_after_viewing_media – Explains the role of social media in disseminating traumatic content and its impact on the development of trauma symptoms and PTSD.
- https://cassybayarea.org/what-if-the-news-itself-is-traumatizing/ – Highlights the importance of moderation and parental guidance in limiting children’s exposure to traumatic media content to mitigate potential harm.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/202501/vicarious-traumatization-when-watching-tragedy-takes-a-toll – Discusses the concept of emotional contagion and how it contributes to the emotional overwhelm experienced by individuals exposed to traumatic media coverage.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarious_trauma_after_viewing_media – Provides examples of how different types of media, including traditional news and social media, impact the development of vicarious trauma symptoms.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/202501/vicarious-traumatization-when-watching-tragedy-takes-a-toll – Suggests strategies for managing vicarious traumatization, such as setting boundaries around media consumption, practicing self-care, and engaging in pro-social activities.
- https://cassybayarea.org/what-if-the-news-itself-is-traumatizing/ – Emphasizes the need for media organizations to consider the emotional impact of their content on consumers and adapt their strategies accordingly.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/202501/vicarious-traumatization-when-watching-tragedy-takes-a-toll – Underlines the importance of connecting with supportive networks and engaging in mindfulness practices to manage the emotional toll of news consumption.
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