What Exactly Is Doomscrolling

This information is also available on my YouTube Channel at: https://youtu.be/vzk2Kr2lvlE

If you prefer, you can also listen to this information on my Podcast at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/norbert-gostischa/episodes/What-Exactly-Is-Doomscrolling-e370727

📱Doomscrolling - The 21st-century habit that keeps your thumb busy and your brain buzzing with dread.

Doomscrolling sounds like a sci-fi gadget or a metal band’s latest album, but it’s neither. It’s the very real, very modern habit of endlessly scrolling through negative or distressing news and social media content — even though you know it’s making you feel worse.

We all recognize the pattern - You pick up your phone to “just check the news” before bed. An hour later, you’re six articles deep on disasters halfway across the world, reading a dozen hot takes on political scandals, and staring at some terrifying graph about climate change. You finally put the phone down, but instead of feeling informed, you feel anxious, helpless, and kind of hollow - That’s doomscrolling.

🧠Why Our Brains Love Bad News

It’s not just weakness or lack of discipline — doomscrolling taps into some very old wiring in our human brain.

Negativity bias - Psychologists have shown that our brains give more weight to negative information than positive. Back in caveperson times, noticing that saber-tooth tiger mattered more than admiring the sunset. Our survival depended on spotting threats. Fast forward to today, that “threat” are headlines about inflation, war, or pandemics. Your brain still perks up - This is important!

The information illusion - We think that if we keep scrolling, we’ll finally find the one article that explains everything and makes the world make sense. Spoiler alert - that article doesn’t exist.

Algorithms know what grabs you - Social media platforms and news apps are designed to keep you hooked. Fear and outrage generate clicks and shares. The more you engage with bad news, the more bad news they feed you.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) - No one wants to be the only person who didn’t hear about the latest big crisis. Staying “in the loop” feels responsible, even when it’s just raising your blood pressure.

⚠️Why Doomscrolling Is a Problem

A little news is good - Staying informed is important - But constant exposure to doom and gloom comes with real downsides:

Increased stress and anxiety - Reading about disasters triggers the same stress response as if you were actually in danger - Your heart rate and cortisol go up.

Sleep disruption - Blue light from your phone plus doom-filled thoughts equals lousy rest - Doomscrolling at night is practically an insomnia guarantee.

Skewed perspective - Spend enough time immersed in negativity, and you start to believe the world is only bad news - In reality, good news happens every day — it just doesn’t trend.

Lower productivity - Time spent doomscrolling is time stolen from hobbies, work, or even just enjoying a cup of coffee in peace.

Think of doomscrolling as mental junk food - A little indulgence won’t kill you, but make it a habit and it corrodes your well-being.

🛠️How to Break the Doomscrolling Cycle

Quitting cold turkey isn’t easy — our phones are practically glued to our hands - But here are strategies that actually work:

Set limits - Use app timers or your phone’s “digital wellbeing” settings to cap time on news apps or social media -  Even a 15-minute cap can make a huge difference.

Don’t scroll before bed - Replace your last scroll with a book, podcast, or even something mindless but non-threatening — like reruns of a sitcom.

Curate your feed - Follow accounts that post positive news, uplifting stories, or educational content - Sprinkle some balance into the mix.

Practice mindful scrolling - Before opening a news app, ask yourself - Do I really want to know what’s going on right now, or am I just anxious?

Replace the habit - Keep your hands busy in other ways: doodle, stretch, or message a friend - Breaking the cycle is easier if you swap the habit with something simple.

Seek depth, not constant updates - Reading one thoughtful article or listening to a well-made podcast is often more useful than skimming 50 alarmist headlines.

🌍The Bigger Picture

The rise in doomscrolling really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic. With so much uncertainty, people turned to their screens for answers — and often got fear instead. But even beyond pandemics, doomscrolling thrives because our world is hyperconnected. You don’t just hear about local problems; you get real-time updates on disasters across the globe.

The problem isn’t being informed - The problem is being overexposed. 

Humans weren’t built to carry the weight of every crisis everywhere, every hour of the day.

🧾Bottom Line - Doomscrolling is the illusion of control — the idea that if you just read one more headline, you’ll feel safer, smarter, or better prepared - Instead, it leaves you drained, anxious, and pessimistic.

Information is power, but only if you can step away when it stops helping. 

Stay safe, stay secure and remember that the news will still be there tomorrow -The question is-will you?

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

“Thanks for tuning in — now go hit that subscribe button and stay curious, my friends!👋”