Information overload and doomscrolling drive rising news avoidance

Global news consumption patterns are shifting as information overload leads to increased news avoidance. According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2026, 42% of respondents worldwide report avoiding news occasionally or frequently, up from 29% in 2017. In Chile, this figure reaches 45%.

This trend is linked to the constant influx of notifications, social media, and 24-hour news cycles. Furthermore, the percentage of people expressing high or extreme interest in news has dropped from 59% in 2021 to less than 46% in 2026.

Psychologists highlight the phenomenon of ‘doomscrolling’—the habit of continuously consuming negative content. This behavior is driven by the brain’s evolutionary negativity bias, which prioritizes perceived threats, and digital algorithms designed to maintain engagement through infinite, unpredictable content streams. Experts warn that this cycle can significantly impact mental health.