When Scrolling Becomes Doomscrolling

Imagine opening a news feed to check one headline. A few minutes later, another alarming story appears. Then another. The original question has disappeared, but the scrolling continues.

Doomscrolling means repeatedly consuming negative online content and struggling to disengage; it is not simply spending a long time on social media. That distinction matters. Watching a tutorial, messaging a friend, and repeatedly checking distressing updates should not automatically be treated as the same behaviour.

What the evidence suggests

A study of university students in Iran and the United States linked doomscrolling with greater anxiety about existence and life's meaning. However, an association does not establish that scrolling caused the anxiety: much of this research relies on surveys rather than experiments.

The useful question is not only, “How many minutes have passed?” It is also, “Is this activity still serving a purpose?”

A more intentional check-in

Try treating the next news session as a small personal experiment:

• Decide what information is needed before opening the feed
• Choose a stopping point, such as finishing a specific article
• Notice whether the session leaves a feeling of being informed or overwhelmed

These are suggestions for reflection, not a tested treatment. The aim is not to avoid difficult news altogether. It is to make room for a deliberate decision about when enough information is enough.