A well informed population is important. The problem is they're not well informed they're well-hooked to whatever exaggeration and drama the news can whip up.

The invented news and invented intensity is the problem.

"hooked" is right.

I'm trying to tell people, you have to take initiative, you have to have agency and be responsible for your own attention.

If you are being "fed" from a "feed" you are being fattened for slaughter