I don't think OP is saying to literally cut off all information from the outside world -- that we should be info-hermits, unaware of who is running for presiden

I don't think OP is saying to literally cut off all information from the outside world -- that we should be info-hermits, unaware of who is running for president, unaware of which states are shutting down, whatever. He's saying that people's very-common argument that "it's important to know everything happening in the world" is bunk, and voracious consumption of news is not useful and is harmful. You can get 99% of utility from news with just a few objective headlines and summaries, once a week tops.