ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

CNN effect

When you watch the news, you might see a lot of sad or scary things happening around the world. Sometimes, these things might make you feel worried or upset. But did you know that sometimes, the news can actually make things worse? That's what we call the "CNN effect."

The CNN effect is when the news media has a big impact on events happening around the world. When the news shows something terrible happening, like a war or a natural disaster, sometimes people might feel like they need to do something to help. For example, they might donate money to a charity or try to convince their government to take action.

But sometimes, all this attention can actually make things worse. When the news shows a lot of violence happening somewhere, it might encourage other people to join in or try to make things worse. And sometimes, governments might feel pressured to take action even when it's not the best idea.

So while it's important to stay informed about what's happening in the world, it's also important to think carefully about how we can help without making things worse. It's like when you see a friend who is feeling sad – you want to help them feel better, but you don't want to make them feel even worse by saying the wrong thing.