Not following the (world) news. What is your view on that?

When i am in Holland (which is ten months per year, about) i pretty much follow the world news, generally.
When someone in my work, for example, shows signs to me (when we talk about world affairs) that he/she is not aware of what is going on, i feel that that is a bit shallow (even though i am not to judge that, but i feel it anyway).
When i am in Greece for the remaining two months of the year, i find myself (and the majority of my acquaintances) not following the news (either).
And strangely i feel not shallow those two months, as a matter of fact, i feel more ‘light’.
It is kind of a relieved feeling to not know what (usually bad) things go on in the world.
So, what is your view on it?
Shallow, to be a non-follower of news?
Or a blessing, if you don’t (want to) follow the news, or simply can’t (no television/radio/papers)?