Escalating Conflicts, Wars, Crises - Should We Just Look Away?

Every day, my screen is bombarded with news of conflicts and wars - it feels like a never-ending cycle. I want to stay informed, but the more I read, the more frustrated I become. What's the point? How many more lives need to be lost? What will the world look like in a few years?

Navigating the News: Avoidance or Doomscrolling?

More and more young people are actively avoiding news due to being overwhelmed and wanting to avoid negative impacts on their mood. Nearly 70% of 18- to 24-year-olds do so at least occasionally. And I can understand why, especially when heartbreaking images and stories fill my Instagram feed amidst food recipes and vacation snaps. Then it never stops, and I'm left at a loss for words.

With each new piece of bad news, something inside me shuts down, emotionally. Yet, as I discuss with friends, I'm not alone in this feeling. "There's so much bad happening that I'm no longer really shocked by it," a friend admitted. So, is it just a choice between pessimism and heartlessness?

Striking a Balance: Informed, Mentally Healthy, Empathetic

According to a study by Dr. Sascha Hölig and Julia Behre from the Leibniz-Institute for Media Research, maintaining mental health involves mindful consumption of news. This may mean being selective in what content we engage with, seeking constructive reporting, or simply taking breaks. Sometimes, I even mute the push notifications from my news app.

While avoiding news altogether may result in ignorance, ignoring the suffering of those experiencing these conflicts we follow on our screens is not an option. We must find a balance between Staying Informed, Maintaining Mental Health, and Cultivating Empathy without losing sight of one another.

Changing Perspectives: A shift in outlook

One of my friends is not part of the pessimistic generation. "Things might not be great right now, but many things have improved in the last few years," he says, pointing out that global hunger and poverty have significantly decreased. And he's right. Did you know that only 9% of the world population currently lives in extreme poverty? Though still too many, it's a significant decrease compared to 30% in 2000.

I choose to allow myself to see these positive developments and to maintain a hopeful outlook. This doesn't mean I'm satisfied with the current state of affairs.

I'm frustrated, but I refuse to give in to feelings of overwhelm. Instead, I choose to hold on to hope. Our discontent, despair, and pessimism should drive us to seek solutions, work towards positive change, and become engaged - no matter the circumstances.

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Kristin Müller

Kristin Müller, born in 2001 in Ulm, embraces contradictions. Raised in Baden-Württemberg, she doesn't speak Swabian but enjoys Guinness, yet is not a beer lover. She got hooked on the Crescent City cliffhanger - only to put off reading the next book. After starting her journalism career with the Walsroder Zeitung during her studies, she landed a role in community management at the city portal "bremen.de" and at the social media agency Himmelrenner. Deciding to become a Wahl-Hamburgerin for her Master, she found no contradiction in the choice. Nickname: mü

In the pursuit of personal growth and self-development, it's essential to balance staying informed about war and conflicts with preserving mental health.
Education and self-development can help foster a more hopeful outlook, encouraging individuals to seek solutions to current global issues instead of succumbing to feelings of overwhelm.
The advancements in health and wellness, including mental health, demonstrate the power of understanding and addressing one's emotional well-being for better coping mechanisms in times of stress.
Politics plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our world, making it essential to stay engaged and well-informed for effective contributions to general news, education, and self-development.