It doesn't seem NFs are built for an environment in which news of the wicked can reach them from anywhere on the globe without hindrance.
I think this applies to me. Five years ago, after I was becoming too pessimestic/worked up, I ceased to read the news or watch the news. And actually that lasted until maybe a year ago; I was just much more at peace being ignorant.
Now I've started making it a point to keep up with world news, and am able to absorb it (for the most part) in more of a detached way, and I like being more informed.
In general though I kinda have a problem with the speed/ease at which news is available. I think much of it is too slanted/biased, and especially with local news, down to the minutia of tabulating daily murders/atrocities, I fail to see the 'point', if you will, of broadcasting that to all. I just don't think anything positive can really come of it. Could instead increase paranoia in the masses, or whatever. Or take the financial market the past few weeks...what impact does minute-to-minute stock snapshots have, compared to if it was only a 24hr snapshot, etc...other topics too. But, that's another discussion.
I don't think I'm to the point as a few others on here where I feel the knowledge empowers me and I feel like I can do something with it to enact change - because frankly, I don't think I can, with most things that I actually care about. I think nearly everything is out of my control, which can upset me. But yeah, the one positive thing the knowledge does is that it makes me realize how I am one of the elite few in the world who is as privileged as I am (and with that can sometimes come guilt..which, meh, isn't great either) - so yeah, it most definitely puts things in perspective.
And without a doubt, to echo what others have already said - I also know that I am totally empowered to be a positive influence (or whatever) with those around me...so that's good. So really, I'm not all doom and gloom about this topic, just trying to be honest too!