Topical themes are always exciting because humans crave novelty. Unlike traditional news, they’re decentralized through social media, which makes them even more engaging and authentic.
But let’s be real: they consume a lot of time and are emotionally taxing. There’s always at least one trending topic that becomes the flavor of the month, enough to keep your mind spinning the entire time. By the time you’ve pieced it all together and solved the puzzles, your brain’s already hunting for the next one – and it doesn’t take long before you’re served.
Here’s the problem: we miss the forest for the trees.
We should be paying more attention to megatrends – the bigger picture that truly matters in the long run – instead of chasing fleeting topical themes.
That said, ignoring topicals completely might not be wise, as they tell us what’s gripping the masses at any given time. Let’s face it – we all deal with people, regardless of our trade or field. Understanding what captures collective attention is worth noting.
So, maybe here’s an optimal approach: Look back at them in hindsight – study their lifecycle, their rise and fall, and the broader story they tell. Instead of engaging in real-time. Basically, turn news into history 🙂
Let’s not forget – in early societies, storytelling and gossip brought people together and set shared norms. The chase for what’s new and exciting triggers our dopamine system. And thanks to the availability heuristic, we tend to give more weight to things right in front of us, even if they’re not as significant as they seem.
Parth Choudhury 