A Common Sense Media report finds about half of 11- to 17-year-olds get at least 237 notifications a day. Some get nearly 5,000 in 24 hours. As more and more research is dedicated to the effects of phone and social media usage on kids’ developing brains, emerging results lead to more worries about harmful consequences. 

While the long term effects of excessive smartphone and social media usage are still largely unknown, we know that at least 50 percent of Gen Zers see news on social media daily and out of teens who follow news, 66 percent say they get most of it from push notifications. And when they are spammed with notifications all throughout their day, it is often hard for them to escape the mental impact of the 24/7 news cycle, focused on negative global developments. 

For example, a recent Dutch research found that 21 percent of young people (between 16 and 30) experience physical symptoms like tiredness and headaches due to climate stress. Being confronted with the news and constantly being reminded of the crises in the world, while being in no position to influence things, creates an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness among youngsters.

That’s why it’s not surprising that recent figures show a rise in ‘news avoiders’, especially among younger demographics. Almost half of 25- to 34 year olds say they (often or sometimes) actively avoid following the news.

Especially with important topics like climate change, it is important to keep them both constructive, yet optimistic. A great example of using lighthearted messaging while still addressing the issues is this public service announcement so ‘Save Florida Man’. Or if you’re overwhelmed by constant announcements and prone to doomscroll yourself; maybe check out this phone that is designed to be ‘used as little as possible’: the Light Phone.