What Is Doomscrolling? Why We Consume Bad News
Doomscrolling is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online. The habit is often compulsive, even when the content is saddening, disheartening, or anxiety-provoking.
At a glance
- Term
- Doomscrolling
- What it is
- Digital media habit
- Section
- Mind and stress
- Also called
- doomsurfing
- In one line
- It’s when you get stuck scrolling through an endless stream of bad news on your phone, even though it makes you feel awful.
What Doomscrolling means
Doomscrolling refers to the compulsive act of consuming an endless feed of negative information online. The term, which blends ‘doom’ and ‘scrolling’, became widely used to describe the tendency to get stuck reading upsetting news about disasters, political conflict, or health crises. It’s different from simply staying informed. Doomscrolling involves a loss of control, where you continue to scroll through distressing content long past the point of gathering useful information, often leading to feelings of anxiety, sadness, and helplessness.
This habit is driven by a combination of human psychology and modern technology. Our brains are naturally wired to pay attention to potential threats as a survival mechanism. Social media and news algorithms are designed to maximize engagement by showing us content that captures our attention, which often includes shocking or negative stories. This creates a powerful loop: our instinct to monitor danger is fed by a limitless supply of algorithm-selected bad news, making it difficult to look away.
The effects of doomscrolling can extend into daily life. It can consume hours of time that might otherwise be spent on sleep, exercise, hobbies, or connecting with loved ones. Constant exposure to negative events can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety, contributing to a pessimistic outlook on the world. Over time, this can lead to mental fatigue and burnout, making it harder to cope with personal challenges because the world feels overwhelmingly dangerous and unstable.
How to stop doomscrolling
- Set specific time limits for news and social media apps using your phone’s built-in timer functions.
- Notice what triggers you to start scrolling. Acknowledging if you’re feeling bored, anxious, or avoidant can be the first step to choosing a different activity.
- Create screen-free times or zones in your day, such as during meals or for the first and last hour of your day.
- Intentionally curate your feeds by unfollowing or muting accounts that consistently cause distress and following those that are neutral or positive.
- Schedule a brief, specific time to check the news once or twice a day, rather than checking it reactively whenever you pick up your phone.
Doomscrolling vs. similar terms
| Compared with | How Doomscrolling differs | What the other term means |
|---|---|---|
| Revenge Bedtime Procrastination | Doomscrolling is about compulsively consuming negative content, often driven by a need to monitor threats. | Revenge bedtime procrastination is sacrificing sleep for leisure time due to a perceived lack of free time during the day. |
Common misconceptions
- Myth: Doomscrolling is the only way to be a responsible, informed citizen. You can stay informed by checking reliable news sources for a limited time each day. Compulsive scrolling through emotionally charged feeds is not necessary and is often counterproductive.
- Myth: If I stop doomscrolling, it means I don’t care about what’s happening in the world. Protecting your mental health from being overwhelmed allows you to engage with the world more sustainably. You can remain compassionate and active without absorbing a constant stream of negativity.
- Myth: It’s just a harmless habit, like watching TV. Because it’s driven by algorithms and our own threat-detection instincts, doomscrolling can become a compulsive cycle that actively increases anxiety and eats into time for restorative activities like sleep.
Related terms
When to bring in a professional
If doomscrolling is significantly impacting your mood, sleep, or ability to function, it may be helpful to speak with a therapist or counselor.
- You consistently feel more anxious, sad, or hopeless after spending time online.
- Your media consumption habits are negatively affecting your sleep, work, or personal relationships.
- You feel unable to control how much time you spend reading negative news, even when you want to stop.
- You experience physical symptoms of stress, like headaches or stomach upset, that seem linked to your scrolling.
How this entry was made: drafted with AI assistance from general, widely published definitions, checked in a separate verification pass for invented numbers and claims, and edited by the Millennials Wellness editors. General information only, not medical, financial or legal advice. Last checked October 2026. Our ground rules · Back to the glossary