What Americans die from vs. what's reported in the media
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata I get what this is saying, but isnt this the old "man bites dog" issue?
Of course the media will report sensational, extraordinary things. This is what people want to hear about.
It's also easier when there are clear villains and victims, and not something abstract like economic forces, infrastructure, or lifestyle.@DrorBedrack @infobeautiful @ourworldindata I was going to say the same thing. The top 9 bars on the left could all be called "natural causes," or even "old age" if they happen late enough, and add up to over 90%. It's not exactly newsworthy.
But then, I think the problem is that the sensationalism leads to people being easily manipulated by bad actors who use the fears of extreme events to drum up support for harmful policies. If anything, this strikes me as an indictment of for-profit news companies, especially when they're owned by people who benefit from harmful policies.
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata The reporting possibly depends on who the problems affected?
My mom dying of cancer vs anyone who might normally be in the news.
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata That's the press for you - all sensation and zero truth - or - "keep the peasants distracted while we rob them'...
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Sensation sellsβ¦
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Of course! And besides the terrorism and homicides the only time the media reports cancer, overdoses, heart disease, etc., is when it happens to a celebrity or other well known person. -
The data is from 2023, which was during Biden. With the pressure of the #Trump administration in 2025, I imagine the current data to be even more divergent.

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Graphs of media vs clinical morbidity & mortality tables always fascinate me.
When someone is banging on about "the southern border" and all these other dire threats, and you ask them to list the top ten things they think will put them in the hospital or grave, they almost always list murder in the top three, and the rest of the list is a hodge-podge of silliness.
When you show them for THEIR ethnicity, gender, and age group what actually does, they waffle
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata the media is only reporting, βif it bleeds it leadsβ.
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Better be prepared for MAHA and the anti-vaxxers to warp coverage even further from reality.
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Graphs of media vs clinical morbidity & mortality tables always fascinate me.
When someone is banging on about "the southern border" and all these other dire threats, and you ask them to list the top ten things they think will put them in the hospital or grave, they almost always list murder in the top three, and the rest of the list is a hodge-podge of silliness.
When you show them for THEIR ethnicity, gender, and age group what actually does, they waffle
@mloxton @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Yes, I've had this exact conversation multiple times. Feel like I am talking to cultists after a while.
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@infobeautiful @ourworldindata
So:
Eat too much.
Don't exercise enough.
Too much ultra processed food, chemicals and pesticides.What are the causes of the 7.8% Accidents?
How much on the road, power tools, weapons or other?@raymaccarthy @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Accidents can bleed over into other categories. I know of two coworkers who died commuting that were probably heartattacks/strokes.
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@mloxton @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Yes, I've had this exact conversation multiple times. Feel like I am talking to cultists after a while.
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@mloxton @PizzaDemon @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
killing grandma for the orange god
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@benroyce @infobeautiful @ourworldindata it would take a magical level of re-observation, but a fair chunk of covid, accidents, and others could be reclassified as "recklessness".
@PizzaDemon @benroyce @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
I'm afraid stupidity doesn't count as suicide. It must be your wish to die not the result of your wired beliefs.
About the homicide I could agree.
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@PizzaDemon @benroyce @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
I'm afraid stupidity doesn't count as suicide. It must be your wish to die not the result of your wired beliefs.
About the homicide I could agree.
@deusfigendi @PizzaDemon @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
true
our awareness of their stupid choices does not mean they are aware
thank you for the correction
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@infobeautiful diabetes is that low? Damn, that's impressive for the worst food on earth.
Jokes aside they talk that much about homicide but how many times is it to ban guns? -
@raymaccarthy @infobeautiful @ourworldindata If you're in Russia, it's from falling out of windows.
@PattyHanson @infobeautiful @ourworldindata
Occasionally Russians abroad fall out of windows. -
@infobeautiful @ourworldindata
How many deaths 2025 are caused by diseases for which vaccines exist? -
@infobeautiful @ourworldindata
How very clever. You are comparing apples to herrings.
If somebody dies from illness in their own or hospital bed, it very seldom is news. Usually no need to be.
If somebody is killed in a terrorism act or murdered, it normally is news. And for a reason.
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