As the media bombards society with overwhelming current news content, individuals fall victim to information overload and herd mentality panic. This phenomenon, known as fearmongering, exploits an individual’s fear to create mass hysteria. By blowing anxieties out of proportion, society remains blind to logic and reasonable perception — easily influenced by those seeking attention or power. The face of the agitator may reside in politicians wielding fear to sway the public’s support, media platforms aiming to score views, advertisers dramatizing the consequences of lacking their product and social groups promoting ideology through directing fear against opposing forces.
Fearmongering poses a dangerous threat by distorting perspectives, polarizing society and increasing stress. This manipulation thrives on dread over deduction and therefore lapses when an attentive consciousness is wielded, placing power back into the hands of the people. Resisting a doomed mindset and remaining alert begins with tiny steps — manageable for patient citizens to accomplish.
Feeding off of misinformation and half-truths, fearmongering leverages anxiety against the rationale that supports realistic courses of action and outcomes. Thus, fact-checking and astutely processing information remains vital to overcome panic. Individuals seeking to seize control of their emotions may find it helpful to challenge any information they encounter. Remaining complacent in the guardrails society puts on opinions and knowledge prevents the possibility of alternate ideas and solutions. Asking “why?” when digesting new information provokes one to investigate and educate oneself on the truth of a matter. Fact-checking promotes logical thinking, prevents off-the-cuff panic and quenches worries by remaining informed.
“[Fearmongering] is really scary, especially because it makes you feel so out of control. Researching things on my own and double-checking things I see on social media or the news helps make me feel more prepared. In times like these, knowledge really is power,” magnet junior Mary Washburn said.
To properly educate oneself and react with logic — rather than bias — one must seek unbiased and diverse sources of information. Gathering information from a limited number of sources narrows opposing perspectives that may deepen one’s understanding of a topic. Fearmongering grabs an audience’s attention through tactics meant to propel individuals into immediate panic, slyly leading them away from alternate possibilities that oppose the agitator’s motive. Therefore, seeking credible sources from a variety of stakeholders allows citizens to comprehend the nuances of a situation and react appropriately.
Constant exposure to digital media — including the news, social media and the internet — embeds immense amounts of stress into individuals. Fearmongering propaganda especially scares people, leading to unsound logic. To combat this, taking breaks from technology may give over-loaded brains a break. Stepping away from a constant flow of distressing news allows individuals to refocus on what they can control within their own world. In turn, people can take control of their thoughts and actions, debilitating scare tactics.
“I think that self-care is super important, especially in a world constantly pushing new information towards us. Social media especially can be exhausting, so sometimes it’s nice to log off of social media and take a bath or go outside. The best way to give the world the love it needs is to take care of ourselves,” magnet junior Kennedi Tolbert said.
Fearmongering must not prevail over sane rationale. Through baby steps promoting individuals to remain informed and calm, society may combat terror-based manipulation and progress towards a bright future defined by informed action rather than reactive fear.
