Paul Gutierrez
Aug 8, 2017 · 1 min read

An excellent and informative article, especially the discussion of the Facebook approach to fine tuning the news you’re presented with.

I would also add that the news taps into our fears related to our self confidence with respect to how we look, what we wear, what we own, what we do, and where we live. One response to fear is to fight which the media exploit by exaggerating and focusing on the potential for conflict in stories as much as possible.

Unfortunately two of the stress responses to fear are flight and freeze which both lead to an urge to disengage ourselves from exposure to news sources. This disengagement from news can lead to disengagement from the political process as well. What effects do chronic exposure to fear have on our physical and mental health? My prediction would be that they’re significantly negative effects.

It’s one thing to not white wash what goes on in the world, it’s quite another to leverage our basic instincts to increase corporate bottom lines let alone how such strategies can warp our perceptions of the world.

Paul Gutierrez

Written by

Trying to listen and respond with aspirations for an improved quality of life if not in the short term, at least in the long run.