What is doomscrolling? Meaning, causes and how to stop
Doomscrolling means endlessly scrolling through bad or upsetting news and posts, even though it makes you feel worse. If you’ve ever looked up at 1 a.m. feeling anxious with a hot phone in your hand, you already know what it is.
Doomscrolling is compulsively consuming negative content online. Your brain is wired to watch for threats and feeds never run out. It’s hard to stop by deciding to, and much easier when the app isn’t there.
Doomscrolling meaning
The word joins “doom” and “scrolling”. It spread widely around 2020, when pandemic news kept people glued to their phones, and dictionaries soon picked it up. People now use it loosely for any endless scroll, including Reels, Shorts and TikTok. Strictly, that lighter kind is closer to “zombie scrolling”, but the trap works the same way.
Why we do it
- Threat watching. Your brain pays extra attention to danger, and feels that one more article could help you prepare.
- No stopping point. Infinite feeds removed the end of the page, which was your natural cue to stop.
- Unpredictable rewards. Sometimes the next post is great, and that keeps you pulling.
- Algorithms. Feeds tend to show you more of whatever held your attention, and outrage holds attention well.
What it does to you
Studies link heavy negative news consumption with more anxiety and lower mood. It also takes from your sleep and your time. You rarely finish a session feeling informed. Usually you just feel worse, and more tired.
How to stop doomscrolling
- Set news times. Twice a day, from a source with an ending, such as a newsletter or a radio bulletin.
- Move the trigger. Most scrolls begin with a reflex tap. Take the icon off your home screen.
- Keep your phone out of bed. Night is when the worst sessions happen.
- Make the apps disappear. FocusComet’s Vanish mode hides the feeds during the hours you choose, so your thumb lands on nothing.
We go deeper in 8 tactics to stop doomscrolling.
Before
During Vanish ModeYour thumb can’t scroll what isn’t there.
FocusComet hides the feeds that trap you for as long as you choose, then brings them back. Free on Android.
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What does doomscrolling mean?
It means compulsively scrolling through negative or upsetting content, even though it makes you feel worse.
Why is it called doomscrolling?
It combines “doom”, for the bad news people consume, and “scrolling”, for how they consume it.
Is doomscrolling bad for you?
Too much of it is linked with more anxiety, lower mood and worse sleep. Staying informed in small, bounded doses is fine.
How do I stop doomscrolling at night?
Charge your phone away from your bed and hide your feed apps for the evening. An actual alarm clock removes the last excuse.