Breaking News and Nervous Breakdowns

“The basic facts held attention for only so long before being supplanted by wild speculation—people were eager to post about the identity of the shooter, his possible motives, the political ramifications of the event, the specter of more violence. It may be human nature to react this way in traumatic moments—to desperately attempt to fill an information void—but the online platforms so many of us frequent have monetized and gamified this instinct, rewarding those who create the most compelling stories.” Charlie Warzel in The Atlantic (Gift Article): This Is What Happens When News Breaks. (Interestingly enough, I wrote a book on this topic! Please Scream Inside Your Heart: Breaking News and Nervous Breakdowns in the Year That Wouldn’t End.)