Over the last four and a half years, we’ve all learned one thing: fear sells.
Every news outlet on the planet knows this. Yes, even your favourite alternative news source. Mainstream or not, every news outlet is looking for revenue to pay their employees and to grow their sphere of influence. All outlets know they draw their biggest audiences not by reporting happy news, people working together for the betterment of humanity, or people bridging cultural and political divisions. No, they go for the jugular because they know fear is addictive.
Think of how amusement parks create rides that evoke a sense of danger. They know what brings in the big bucks. Look at the lines at amusement parks from roller coasters, and you can see what draws the crowds in.
Do you find yourself compelled to scour news channels, alternative news sites, and time ministries that bring a fear-based interpretation of the news but never admit their interpretations were wrong? What about social media platforms that assert they give you the so-called real news, not what they call fake news, but their version of the real news?
Fear – the addictive sales pitch Media gives you, asserting the more you know their side of the story the more peaceful your world will become.
If so, it might be worth considering that there might be a bit of an addiction to the rush of righteous anger or fear that goes down your spine when visiting those sites.
Are you caught up in a never-ending loop of seeking proof for all your suspicions?
If so, I have a bit of a challenge for you. Take a complete break from all news channels, online news magazines and outlets, and limit yourself to skimming your local news headlines once a day. Check your weather app, of course, but refrain from watching news channels and reading news blocks of any type after two weeks. Check your anxiety levels. If you found your anxiety levels skyrocketed during that period, perhaps it could honestly be a sign you have become addicted to fear. However, if you find an increasing place of peace in your life and have a genuine interest in the world around where you live, take that as a sign that God is asking you to limit your news intake and expand your peace intake.
©2024 Katherine Walden
Subscribe to my YouTube channel to ‘hear’ these blogs!