These days, it feels like there’s a new terrifying headline every minute, whether it’s talk of a looming recession, climate disasters, or the threat of another war. The world can feel overwhelming, and doomscrolling, the habit of endlessly scrolling through distressing stories certainly doesn’t help. One news alert turns into five. One video leads to the next. Before you know it, you’re caught in a loop, compulsively consuming tragedy, disaster, and fear, often without even realizing it.
Keeping yourself up to date with current affairs is one thing but remaining glued to your phone for hour-long intervals in your day feeding yourself anxiety-inducing information, is quite another. Unfortunately, we live in a world where finding out about news - no matter how negative or atrocious - is so easily accessible, it’s alarming. Sure, the fact that we can find out things through social media or a quick Google search is convenient, no doubt. But how beneficial is it to slip into that downward spiral of constantly reading things that can potentially take their toll on our mental health?
Taking a break from it doesn’t mean that you’re running away from reality. It just means you’re looking out for yourself. Even if it means still using your phone to play a few light-hearted casino games; in fact, NoDepositKings has the best new casino bonuses to feast your eyes on. And even that activity needs to be practised in moderation. You know the age-old adage: ‘too much of anything is bad for you’.
Join us as we take a closer look at the dangers of doomscrolling, and what it might be doing to your brain.
What is Doomscrolling?
Doomscrolling is a term used to describe the act of endlessly consuming negative content online. Today’s platforms make this easier than ever, with features like infinite scroll, autoplay videos, and algorithm-driven feeds that keep users locked in, constantly pushing more content to watch, read, and react to. Much of it is fast-paced, visual, and emotionally charged, making it especially hard to step away.
The term gained widespread attention during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when it felt like there was no escaping the flood of bad news: soaring case numbers, rising death tolls, and no clear end in sight.
Now, we're seeing an increasingly harmful trend of people turning to doomscrolling as a way to disconnect from their own stress, using it as a form of avoidance. For some, it can feel easier to focus on the world’s problems than to confront their own.
Negative Consequences
You know how being around negative people can drain your energy? Well, doomscrolling can have the same effect, only worse. Constantly consuming negative content can take a serious toll on your emotional well-being, potentially leading to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
The nonstop intake of distressing stories can also manifest physically, causing symptoms such as stomach discomfort, headaches, muscle tension, stiffness in the neck and shoulders, loss of appetite, poor sleep, and even spikes in blood pressure. A recent study supports these findings, revealing that doomscrolling can heighten feelings of existential dread, the deep, unsettling anxiety that surfaces when we’re faced with life’s uncertainties.
Conquering the Scroll
Fear not, there are effective ways to prevent doomscrolling from taking over your life. The first step is recognizing that this habit can be genuinely harmful and accepting the need for change. Start by avoiding your phone for at least 30 minutes after waking up. No one wants to begin their day with headlines about another bombing or an endangered animal nearing extinction. Instead, use that time to read a book, practice mindfulness, or repeat positive affirmations to set a better tone for the day ahead.
While technology has certainly introduced new challenges, it also offers tools to help manage them. Use app timers or screen-time features to limit your usage, and turn off unnecessary notifications, unless you work in the media, you probably don’t need breaking news alerts from BBC popping up all day. Don’t hesitate to take a break from social media when it becomes overwhelming. You’re not obliged to stay updated on every catastrophe; your well-being comes first. A digital detox, even a short one, can go a long way in helping you reset and refocus.
