Oftentimes when we scroll through our Facebook timeline we see various articles describing horrific events around the world. From school shootings to terrorist attacks to continued worldwide prejudice, it can be hard not to feel upset or depressed just from reading the headlines as you scroll between cat memes.
However, it is vital to stay on top of current events, even if you’d rather just look at cat memes all day. Here are five ways you can stay informed without pulling your hair out:
1. Only follow news sources you trust/like.
While it’s important to follow a variety of sources, it is vital to only follow sources you trust and enjoy reading from. This will ensure that you are receiving news you find trustworthy, but also news less likely to leave a bad taste in your mouth.
2. Don’t read the comments section.
It’s tempting, I know, but comment sections are very rarely intellectual discussion and debate. Oftentimes, it's just trolls wanting to upset you. If you have the willpower, dive deep, but on an average day, comments sections are simply the troll under the bridge you should ignore.
3. Utilize the unfollow/unfriend buttons.
Sometimes it’s not the sources we follow that cause the negativity, but our friends. We all have those friends that barrage your timeline with bogus articles and misleading headlines. Luckily, Facebook allows you to unfollow these friends so that you won’t see their posts anymore but remain friends. However, in some cases, it's better to just unfriend them altogether.
4. Follow a few sources dedicated to good news.
There are a few pages and sources dedicated only to good news rarely seen on even the best new sources. Huffington Post has a section dedicated to good news and there are various other sites and Facebook pages dedicated to posting at least as much good news as the bad. A few other pages include The Dodo, YES! Magazine, and the Good News Network.