Is it just me, or has everything gotten weirdly dark lately? Like, disturbingly dark. What used to be shocking is now just Friday night content. Incest? Abuse? Psychological torture? Cannibalism? Just another plot twist, babe. And we’re all supposed to be cool with it, maybe post a meme, and move on.

But here’s the thing: I’m not cool with it. And I don’t think you should be either.

Somewhere along the way, we got so used to disturbing content that we stopped reacting. We call it “edgy,” “artful,” or “realistic,” but let’s be honest—it’s giving emotional numbness with a side of entertainment fatigue. Are we just desensitized, or is the world actually spiraling?

Either way, I’m starting to understand why people end up watching the Hallmark Channel unironically.

Desensitization in Modern Media: Why It’s a Problem

This isn’t just a TV trend—it’s a cultural shift. The grotesque has gone mainstream. Abuse, trauma, sexual violence, even incest, are now regular storylines. And instead of responding with horror, we’re ranking it on Letterboxd, live-tweeting it, and moving on to the next binge.

But here’s the thing: this is desensitization in action. Repeated exposure to disturbing content blunts our emotional response. Psychologists have been talking about it for literal years—the more you see it, the less it shocks you. And that numbing doesn’t just affect how we watch TV—it leaks into how we see the world.

Empathy starts to erode. Shock becomes rare. We expect darkness, and when something isn’t dark, we call it boring. That’s… a little bleak, no?

Signs We’re Becoming Emotionally Numb from Media

We joke about being “chronically online,” but we might actually be emotionally fried. Here’s how it shows up:

• You scroll past videos of real violence and barely blink.
• You watch shows with graphic trauma like it’s background noise.
• You feel guilty when a wholesome moment makes you cringe.

We’ve been trained to expect pain and plot twists. Our feeds are filled with disaster headlines, content warnings, and ironic reels about mental breakdowns. It’s no wonder our ability to feel deeply—outside of panic or exhaustion—is on life support.

The Surprising Appeal of Hallmark-Level Safety

Plot twist: I get the Hallmark people now. Predictable storylines? Low stakes? Two people falling in love over a cookie decorating contest? Inject it directly into my soul.

This doesn’t mean we need to pretend the world is sunshine and rainbows only. But a little emotional safety? A story where no one gets traumatized? That’s not “boomer”—that’s self-preservation.

Wholesome doesn’t mean weak. It means resting your nervous system. And in this media landscape, that’s kind of rebellious.

Content Isn’t Just Entertainment—It’s a Mirror

Media is a mirror, and lately it’s reflecting back a society that’s overstimulated, emotionally exhausted, and numbed out. If you’re feeling disturbed by how not disturbed people are… that means you’re still connected. You still care. You still feel.

So no, you’re not being dramatic or prudish or “too sensitive.” You’re just awake. And that’s powerful.

Maybe we can start asking a little more from our content. Or at the very least, give ourselves permission to step away when things start feeling heavy—because the goal isn’t to cope better with the darkness. 

The goal is to not forget what light feels like.