Doomscrolling or doomsurfing is the act of continuously consuming negative news online. Say you’re scrolling through social media, and come across an upsetting post or comment. You look for content that validates your reaction to the news, and get caught up in a web of negativity. Or you continue to skim related stories that are equally or increasingly disturbing. You keep checking the story for updates, and may ignore or dismiss information that doesn’t confirm your opinions. In any event, you are in a spiral of negativity, and when you finally put down your phone, a considerable amount of time has passed and you feel anxious, exhausted, and riled up. Research shows that this isn’t a passing feeling. Rather, this habit can negatively impact emotional well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Increased Anxiety, Stress, and Depression
Studies during COVID-19 pandemic found that people who excessively doomscrolled reported higher levels of depression and anxiety. Instead of feeling informed and prepared for the upcoming difficulties, they felt more helpless and distraught. At the moment, doomscrolling may feel like it’s giving a sense of control, but in reality, it does the opposite. It can become a maladaptive coping mechanism. In trying to feel in control, it feeds the ruminations, fear, and helplessness, explains Jamie Krenn Ph.D. on Psychology Today.
Read More: TikToker’s Heavily Edited Photos Are An Example of How Fake Social Media Really Is
