But... That's exactly the point. That the news are flooded with awful things makes it much much easier to be better on average than it appears. I believe you're misunderstanding the original statement.
If there are 100 bad things and 10 good thing, but the news tell you about 80 bad things and 2 good things.. Things are better than they appear.
As I think that news media focus primarily on the bad, I believe the world is better than the news would make it seem.
This is about the overall state of the world/humanity, not me as an individual.
No, you're missing the point.
The fact these awful things exist mean they drag down any idea of progress. The world is not a good place because people are living longer etc... the world is still a shitty place because things like systemic racism, poverty, apartheid, etc.. exist.
And, the fact that so many people experience happier lives is a big part of the problem. Comfy privileged people don't want to rock the boat as often.
The world is in a shit state when someone like Trump in in power, when the alt-right gain legitimacy, when so many American care about gun rights ahead of the lives of kids, when minority groups continue to be oppressed and the privileged stand by and do nothing.