Oh yeah I - at least in part I wanted to go over the top as reply to the "so boomer" phrasing :)

But honestly, I think I see where you're coming from. My concern is that it's not a change in language but a shift from information to emotion: And there is genuinely something to keep an eye on: Do my news inform me or engage me?

No matter if Epstein, AI, Ukraine, etc - it's becoming harder and harder for me to create an opinion on my own because more and more of my information channels tell me how I should feel instead of what's going on. I'd rather find that out on my own though.

It's an interesting thought for me though because I can easily rationalize my opposition against this shift - but it's also rooted in my emotional reaction to emotion-bait which is ... ironic I feel!

Using the argument of 'that's just how reality is,' about anything in culture is always dumb for the exact same reason you are using to support it. Culture can shift. People who care about the harm want culture to shift away from 'the way it is' to something better.

People who complain about manipulative headlines aren't complaining because manipulative headlines didn't happen 'back in their day.' They are complaining because they are manipulative and harmful now, just as they were back then. Bad things don't become not bad by being common.

Aaargh, I'm burning. Please make it stop.

The downside is that it enables you to ignore every real problem in the world by just telling yourself that it is what it is. It might be good for your own sanity on the short run but it's bad for everyone on the long run.