The internet's version of movie marathon—but instead of jump scares, it’s just a parade of weird vibes.
Doomscrolling, the masochistic and compelling urge to rummage the internet for all things terrible and grotesque, has worsened over time and caused immense physical and mental toll. This habit puts social media scrollers in isolation as they compulsively fall into a rabbit hole of sour news. What prompts this behaviour? Perhaps the urge to stay in the loop? The desire to identify as a “news junkie”? Why Doomscrolling is concerning?
Constant exposure to distressing news can heighten feelings of anxiety and stress. The more you scroll, the more you may feel overwhelmed by the negative events around you, leading to a sense of helplessness.
Doomscrolling, especially before bed, can interfere with your sleep patterns. The emotional arousal caused by reading upsetting news makes it harder for your mind to wind down, potentially leading to insomnia or poor sleep quality.
Continuous exposure to negative content can contribute to feelings of depression. When your feed is filled with negative content, it can create a pessimistic outlook on life, reinforcing feelings of melancholy and hopelessness.
Time spent doomscrolling can easily eat into time that could be used for more productive or enjoyable activities. This can lead to procrastination and a sense of lost time, further contributing to stress.
Spending extended periods of scrolling leads to physical issues such as eye strain, headaches, and neck pain, and a sedentary lifestyle, affecting overall health.
Every once in a while, even a news junkie needs a break from social media negativity much of which is fuelled by images, comments, and other forms of media.
Establish a specific time each day to check the news or social media. Use your screen time management apps and features to set limits, ensuring you do not spend more than a designated amount of time on these activities. Besides setting limits, consider identity and acting on triggers. For instance, many are led to doomscrolling due to peer pressure, especially the pressure to stay current on the news and form a stance.
If you are keen on moving past this toxic habit, unfollowing or muting sources that regularly post distressing content would be an effective strategy. Instead, follow accounts that provide positive, informative, or balanced perspectives. This can help reduce the amount of negative content you encounter.
The heavy reliance on technology for just about anything, be it grocery shopping to reading an event analysis, has definitely worsened the already pestering urge to doomscroll for hours on end. This also stimulates a feeling of guilt and nausea. To combat the urge, create specific periods in your day where you disconnect from your devices entirely. Use this time to engage in creative pursuits or constructive activities, which can help reduce the want to doomscroll.
Mindfulness is one potent remedy to uncontrolled behaviours and self-sabotaging tendencies that often push you to doomscroll at the cost of peace and productivity. Before you start scrolling, take a moment to assess how you are feeling. If you notice that you are turning to scrolling out of boredom, distress, anxiety, or habit, try a different activity like deep breathing, journaling, or taking a walk instead.
Instead of relying solely on social media or news apps, consider other ways to stay informed, such as listening to a daily news podcast or reading a well-rounded newsletter. This can give you a more structured way of consuming news.
