Positivity Breaks Free

To many people, lunch is simply a meal in the middle of the day. To Jose Luis Perez, his lunch break is much more than that. Earlier this year, on April 7, 2026, Perez posted his first “What did my wife pack me for lunch?” video. This video instantly grew his TikTok popularity, with 34.5 thousand likes and over 210 thousand views; Perez has posted this type of video since. Beyond giving people a look into his day-to-day, Perez has gained popularity for how radiant and cheerful he is in every video. This luster sparks the question: Does everyone need more positive content?

This plain answer is yes. Compared to negative content, positive media benefits society much more. If true, why is positivity less apparent every day? Humans naturally respond more to negative information than to positive information, known as “negativity bias,” or “a term psychologists use for our hunger to hear and remember bad news,” as stated by Adoni Media. This means that even if someone prefers positive media, their brain will remember and process negative media more thoroughly. Psychologists and professionals have continuously made this connection with data; however, media networks use this understanding to their advantage.

Unfortunately, many media networks, services, and individual companies are profit-based and publish news to benefit their own company. A flyer from MintPress News puts this into perspective: 1500 newspapers, 1100 magazines, 9000 radio stations, 1500 TV stations, and 2400 publishers are owned by six corporations and 272 executives. With that limited array of control, these organizations decide what gets published, and sometimes it is entirely profit-motivated. These company ideologies can also impact journalists, as new journalists may be trained to run negative stories more often to boost their bulletins and publications.

After learning about these media influences, one can begin to understand how to reroute their own algorithm to positive media. This is crucial, as positive news significantly benefits life and truly matters for everyone. Simpy stated, “Positive stories about acts of kindness, scientific breakthroughs, or community success create a (ripple) effect of optimism, helping individuals feel more hopeful and empowered,” in Image Mental Wellness’s article “The Psychological Effects of News Consumption”. On a deeper level, positive news can improve mood and motivation, reduce cortisol hormone levels, and enhance emotional resilience, all of which greatly impact daily life.

If Perez’s positivity shows the world anything, it is that society needs more brightness in media. Within a few minutes, Perez unites and uplifts people globally, all because of his lunch and smile. In his own way, Perez is positive media, something the world desperately needs more of. Positivity should not be overlooked; it can change daily interactions, people’s mindsets, and perceptions about the world.