Kids start avoiding negative info at age 7
Kids start avoiding info that might upset them at age 7, a behavior that continues into adulthood with societal consequences.
Why it matters
- Kids start avoiding information that might cause negative emotions at age 7.
- This behavior can have societal consequences like deepening political polarization.
By the numbers
- Sample size: 320 American children aged 5-10.
- Age at which information avoidance starts: 7 years old.
The big picture
- Information avoidance can lead to personal and societal issues.
What they're saying
- Some relate this to confirmation bias and the backfire effect.
- Others point out that this might explain why certain news outlets target seniors.
Caveats
- The study was conducted with American children, so cultural differences might affect the results.
- The study only looked at a specific age range, so we don't know how this behavior develops beyond age 10.
What’s next
- More research is needed on how to reduce information avoidance.