“The news is everywhere, the majority of it is free, and it sidles automatically into your brain. You don’t have to store it anywhere, and there’s nothing to dispose of afterwards. These ‘negative obstacles’ are what make the news so insidious."

• Who read the news today?
• Who understand the world better because of it?

The word news is derived from the Latin word novus, meaning new. It refers to "new things" or "new tidings". If news is about “what’s new,” why does it often feel repetitive, shallow, and even a bit overwhelming?

People following the news are walking around with a completely "false sense of risk". They reflect this negatively in their daily lives. They constantly fear terrorism while overlooking the impact of chronic stress. They focus on annual flood disasters but turn a blind eye to melting glaciers. They monitor food inflation daily through economic news and stock up on supplies, yet they fail to remember the over 800 million people struggling with hunger worldwide. They care about their own opinions, but never take actions.

We often share our opinions without thinking, even though they’re not always necessary. Why do we do that? It’s because it keeps us connected to the news. For example, when we write about the tragedy in Palestine, it makes us feel better about ourselves. But, this feeling is nothing more than an "act of self-deceit".

You become what you give your attention to...

Epictetus warned that the news has the power to shape us, and if we don’t actively choose what we follow, we risk developing poor character. Similarly, Seneca advised: “You must linger among a limited number of master-thinkers, and digest their works,” as a path to wisdom.

Choosing what truly matters is key to a fulfilling life. Our minds are overloaded, and we need to declutter and remove unnecessary distractions, not just keep adding more. In this fast-paced world, even though it’s easier to add than remove, sometimes less really is more