Can you become addicted to reading the news? In a world of 24 hours television news, smartphones and Twitter, it certainly feels like it.

Because we are constantly assaulted by information about events, we come to believe that we have to stay up to date. We need to know everything about wars, disasters, or even celebrities.

Then there is the fear factor. Much of what we see and read is depressing or even alarming. It’s easy to become addicted to news about global epidemics like Ebola or the spread of terrorism if you feel that you and your family might be affected.

There seems to be a new crisis every year that makes life more terrifying. That’s despite the general improvement in peoples’ standard of living and the fact that most crises are exaggerated. It all adds up to a recipe for needless stress.

What we need is moderation. Personally, I don’t jump onto my smartphone to check when events occur. I’m not one who needs to know all about the latest celebrity divorce or whether Madonna has broken her leg, but I stay well informed about events in the world.

Anyone who feels the need to check out the news every hour, might well be someone with addiction issues. The way that the news produces the fear of harm or being uninformed can have real psychological effects.

In a world of endless and excessive news, I think that we need less stressful, more practical news that inspires and informs, but doesn’t set out to alarm people.

For example, I live in Istanbul. In 2014, we were told that the city would experience a heightened risk of a catastrophic earthquake. It didn’t materialize, but the city was gripped by anxiety even though for individuals there was little they could do if an earthquake struck.

So in the future, I’ll be limiting myself to checking out the day’s top stories and keeping my smartphone firmly in my pocket.

Nu