Acharya Prashant addresses the question of whether it is practical to avoid newspapers and television. He suggests that instead of making a rigid rule, it is sufficient to understand what newspapers and TV truly are. He asks the audience to observe the society around them, for whom the media is created. He describes the common person as lustful, greedy, fearful, and suspicious. Consequently, the content of newspapers and TV is tailored to appeal to these very tendencies, rather than offering anything that calms the mind or leads to love. The speaker explains that media, including newspapers and TV channels, thrives on fanning the public's suspicions and fears. He challenges the audience to examine any newspaper and see what direction it pushes the mind. He points out that media is filled with advertisements, and the sole purpose of advertisers is to sell their products by creating greed and awakening animalistic tendencies in the consumer. Popular media exploits the mind's existing state of doubt, uncertainty, and engagement in useless discussions. Acharya Prashant clarifies that he is not against reading or information but advocates for discretion. One should be able to discern what is worth reading and what is not. He notes that in a 25-page newspaper, barely half a page might lead one towards truth, while the rest creates mental turmoil. He highlights the triviality of most news, such as political scandals, celebrity romances, or sports controversies, questioning how such information benefits one's life. He describes news websites as a mix of politics, sports, violence, and "spicy" content designed to keep the user hooked. He reveals the business model of media: it is not sustained by the small price paid by the consumer but by crores in advertising revenue. The news is merely a vehicle to deliver advertisements. The newspaper is essentially the marketplace entering one's home, designed to make people feel incomplete and thus turn them into consumers. Advertisements constantly suggest that one is lacking something—be it the right clothes, toothpaste, or bike—and that buying their product will make one "complete." The speaker concludes that this entire system is a game where the consumer is the prey, constantly being hunted by the market.
