There is a paradox at the heart of modern information: we have access to more news than any humans in history, and yet many of us feel less informed and more anxious than ever. The constant scroll, the breaking news alerts, the social media arguments — they exhaust without necessarily enlightening.
By 2023 and 2024, 'doomscrolling' had entered the cultural vocabulary. Research consistently showed that heavy social media news consumption was associated with higher anxiety and lower wellbeing, even as it didn't necessarily lead to better understanding of the issues.
The Hard Question
How do you stay informed and engaged — as a citizen and as a human being — without being consumed? The answer is genuinely difficult and personal. Some people go on 'news diets.' Some limit their social media. Some focus on local issues where their engagement can actually make a difference.
The Case for Presence
One of the arguments for being somewhere rather than somewhere online is that presence grounds you. Real conversation, real laughter, real connection — these aren't escapes from the world, they're what the world is actually made of.
Come to Fuego. Put the phone down for an hour. The news will still be there when you get back.