I started reading the news again

I stopped reading the news in university. On top of wasting paper, the overload of information only served to make me increasingly cynical. There’s a thin line between staying informed and anxiety, and I wanted to be far from it.

“News consumption has a downside.”

— American Psychological Association

I only hear of an event if it’s significant enough to leak onto my social media feeds. Admittedly, this isn’t the best source for news. Social media is rife with rumours and misinformation.

Last Wednesday, I returned to my hometown for the general elections. I cast my vote in the same room of the same building where I first voted back in 2013, not knowing whether it would make a difference.

Like millions of other Malaysians, I found myself glued to the screen of my phone, swiping down for news updates. If I felt powerless before, I grew more and more hopeful towards the end of the day.

That very night, Malaysia was rocked by a historic moment. People were out cheering in the streets, overcome by joy.

I’m eager to hear what changes are coming to our country, but I’ll be limiting my news consumption to a healthy level. I wasn’t alone — most people I talked to have said, “I like reading the news now.”

Yes, so do I. I like reading the news when it’s unbiased and unfiltered. I like reading the news when something exciting is happening every single day.

It’s only day #4 with a new government, but here’s to welcoming more good news to Malaysia!