#172 – Bryan Caplan on why you should stop reading the news
Nov 17, 2023
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Bryan Caplan, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and author of "Stop Reading the News," challenges the norm of staying updated with current events. He argues that consuming news can lead to anxiety and a distorted worldview. Caplan explores how sensationalism overshadows meaningful reporting, promoting emotional distress instead of informed civic engagement. He advocates for more fulfilling activities over constant news consumption, suggesting alternative sources for a clearer understanding of the world.
Reading the news can make us miserable and distort our understanding of the world.
The news focuses on negative events, creating anxiety and a skewed perception of reality.
News reporting is often biased and oversimplified, leading to a distorted understanding of complex issues.
News consumption does not necessarily lead to informed decision-making or political engagement.
Technological advancements have the potential to significantly boost economic growth.
Voters often prioritize appearances over substance, hindering effective policy implementation.
Deep dives
Questioning the Right Number of Disasters
The podcast episode discusses the idea that the news often focuses on negative events, creating a skewed perception of the world. The host questions whether it is necessary to cover every single disaster and suggests that there may be a correct number of disasters that society expects. The speaker argues that the media's emphasis on negative news can lead to anxiety and a distorted view of the world. They provide an example of earthquake codes, explaining that strict regulations could significantly increase housing costs. The episode encourages listeners to consider the number and impact of news stories and how it affects their well-being.
Questioning the Value of News Consumption
The podcast explores the idea that following the news may not offer true enjoyment or helpful insights into the world. The host suggests that news consumption can lead to anxiety and a diminished understanding of global issues. They recommend reducing news consumption and instead focusing on more in-depth sources like books, encyclopedias, or Wikipedia to gain a better understanding of important topics. The speaker also highlights the negative bias and oversimplification often found in news reporting. They argue that it is possible to stay informed without relying heavily on daily media consumption.
The Impact of Media Bias and Oversimplification
The podcast episode discusses the bias often present in news reporting, particularly in the United States. The host acknowledges that while journalists themselves may not be inherently problematic, the business model and incentive structure of news organizations can lead to biased reporting and oversimplification of complex issues. They suggest that news stories often prioritize negative events, overlook important information, and reinforce certain ideologies. The speaker argues that relying on alternative sources like Wikipedia can provide a more balanced and accurate understanding of various topics without the emotional rollercoaster of traditional news consumption.
Reconsidering the Importance of News for Civic Engagement
The podcast challenges the notion that reading the news is essential for being a responsible citizen and fostering political engagement. The host suggests that news consumption does not necessarily lead to tangible actions or informed decision-making. They argue that even a significant reduction in news consumption, such as a 90% decrease, would not undermine an individual's ability to make informed decisions or take part in civic activities. The speaker highlights the importance of focusing on substantive actions beyond news consumption, such as personally engaging with politicians, attending local meetings, or writing letters to elected representatives.
The Limitations of AI and Machine Intelligence
AI systems are unlikely to develop independent goals or motivations and are designed by humans to serve human purposes.
Concerns About Cybersecurity and Hacking
If AI systems become capable of hacking into computer servers undetected, it could pose a significant risk, but the balance between offense and defense measures will determine the outcome.
The Unlikelihood of AI Takeover
The fear of machines outnumbering and overpowering humans is not a concern as long as machines are designed and controlled by humans for human ends.
Potential for Radical Change
While it is safe to bet on the world remaining relatively stable, historical evidence suggests the possibility of radical transformations driven by technological advancements.
The importance of economic growth and technological advancements
The podcast episode discusses the speaker's belief that economic growth has been understated and that true economic growth has the potential to be greater than measured. The speaker emphasizes the need for technological advancements that can significantly boost economic growth by removing human labor as a bottleneck. They also highlight the limitations of making predictions based on limited evidence and draw parallels to historical economic theories.
The role of superficial appearances in politics
The podcast explores the idea that voters often make decisions based on what sounds good and superficial rather than what is objectively good or effective. The speaker argues that this tendency is driven by social desirability bias, where people lie or deceive themselves to conform to societal expectations. This leads to policy decisions that prioritize appearances over substance and hinder the implementation of effective policies.
The challenges of allocating resources in space exploration
The podcast considers the question of resource allocation in space exploration, particularly in scenarios where multiple parties have the ability to reach and make use of other planets or asteroids. The speaker suggests that a 'finders keepers' approach, where the first entity to reach and claim a resource gets to keep it, is a realistic and fair solution. They acknowledge potential concerns about violent conflict but argue that government ownership or proportional allocation based on military power are not effective alternatives.
Balancing the time cost and benefits of homeschooling
The speaker shares their personal experience with homeschooling their children and acknowledges the time cost involved. They highlight the benefits of personalized education, flexibility in curricula, and the positive relationship between parent and child. While recognizing the opportunity cost, the speaker emphasizes the joy and satisfaction derived from being actively involved in their children's education.
Is following important political and international news a civic duty — or is it our civic duty to avoid it?
It's common to think that 'staying informed' and checking the headlines every day is just what responsible adults do.
But in today's episode, host Rob Wiblin is joined by economist Bryan Caplan to discuss the book Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life — which argues that reading the news both makes us miserable and distorts our understanding of the world. Far from informing us and enabling us to improve the world, consuming the news distracts us, confuses us, and leaves us feeling powerless.
In the first half of the episode, Bryan and Rob discuss various alleged problems with the news, including:
That it overwhelmingly provides us with information we can't usefully act on.
That it's very non-representative in what it covers, in particular favouring the negative over the positive and the new over the significant.
That it obscures the big picture, falling into the trap of thinking 'something important happens every day.'
That it's highly addictive, for many people chewing up 10% or more of their waking hours.
That regularly checking the news leaves us in a state of constant distraction and less able to engage in deep thought.
And plenty more.
Bryan and Rob conclude that if you want to understand the world, you're better off blocking news websites and spending your time on Wikipedia, Our World in Data, or reading a textbook. And if you want to generate political change, stop reading about problems you already know exist and instead write your political representative a physical letter — or better yet, go meet them in person.
In the second half of the episode, Bryan and Rob cover:
Why Bryan is pretty sceptical that AI is going to lead to extreme, rapid changes, or that there's a meaningful chance of it going terribly.
Bryan’s case that rational irrationality on the part of voters leads to many very harmful policy decisions.
How to allocate resources in space.
Bryan's experience homeschooling his kids.
Producer and editor: Keiran Harris Audio Engineering Lead: Ben Cordell Technical editing: Simon Monsour and Milo McGuire Transcriptions: Katy Moore
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