In the middle of a pandemic, Americans are scrambling to keep abreast of the headlines – and stay sane while doing so. How can people stay informed while maintaining their mental health? And what else, besides objective information, can the media offer to those stuck at home?

From Donald Trump’s divisive handling of the pandemic to the murder of George Floyd, as political confusion and social inequality in the US dominate headlines and spill out into the streets, Americans’ sense of pride in the nation has dropped to its lowest level since the early 2000s.

With people spending more time at home, they’re turning to entertainment to break the monotony of the everyday and channel their anxiety into something more hands-on. But can escapism really help people feel more empowered? And how do they want brands to speak to them during a pandemic?

People are wary of the dangers of fake news and they're looking to social media giants to take responsibility for keeping it from spreading. To that end, Twitter is testing an alert that prompts users to read articles before sending them as opposed to taking all online information at face value.