The news is hearsay with a veneer of officialness.

I don't ask. You don't have to. If it's important you'll hear about it passively. You'll also hear about unimportant things, but far fewer unimportant things than if you actively looked for pertinent information.

I decide what to learn about, you let others decide for you.

> The news is hearsay with a veneer of officialness [sic]

(I'm guessing you meant officiality?) So "the news is hearsay," and you just get hearsay of that hearsay? Not seeing the benefit.

You don't decide shit. You're consuming what some executive wants you to.

I choose what to care about. I hear about what's happening, same as you, except I don't sit anxiously in front of a box to do it, and I don't get told what to think and feel about it.

I decided what to read. You passively wait for someone else to tell you what's newsworthy. I guess you sitting anxiously in front of your laptop doesn't count?

Does the news you're looking at reddit and Twitter for come with any commentary by chance? If so you're getting told what to think and feel about it.