Doomscrolling, or continuously searching social media and websites for bad news, causes stress hormones to be released, which can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health.
Doomscrolling, also known as doomsurfing, is a phenomena in which you frequently scroll or surf around social media and other news sites in order to stay up to date on the newest news — even if it is horrible news.
Although the phrase is assumed to have originated on Twitter in 2018, it has gained traction in our cultural lexicon since then, especially after the commencement of the COVID-19 epidemic in March and April of 2020.
What effect does doomscrolling have on your health?
Doomscrolling can exacerbate pre-existing or developing mental health issues. Even if you don’t have a history of mental illness, constant exposure to bad news can lead to catastrophizing, or a tendency to dwell on the negative parts of the world around you to the point where it becomes more difficult to notice anything positive.
Many folks who doomscroll can attest to an addictive quality as well as a proclivity to over-catastrophize, whether it’s about COVID-19 or not.
How to stop doomscrolling
- Set a time restriction for yourself: Setting time limitations (and reminders) will help you break out of a doomscrolling session because it can sometimes extend for hours. Set time limitations on your social media accounts to remind you to log off, or plan an activity with a buddy during the times you’re most likely to doomscroll. Apps that limit your screen time, such as Freedom (which bans distracting websites), can assist.
- Social media should be avoided. Avoid sites that have a lot of news or talk, especially those that focus on how the globe is hurting, Wong advises. Consider eliminating Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter from your phone if they cause doomscrolling sessions. You can still access them through your browser, but it will take extra time, especially if you have to log out and then back in each time.
- Set limits for yourself. People who struggle with doomscrolling or who suffer from depression or anxiety should set limits on the material they consume, according to Wong. Similarly, be aware of what topics you like to focus on and talk about, as well as how long you tend to talk about them.
- Gratitude should be practised. Doomscrolling has the ability to make you forget about everything but what is wrong with the world. “List a few things you’re grateful for each day,” Wong suggests as a way to fight back. Making daily lists of what you’re grateful for, even if it’s only one thing, might help develop a sense of optimism and calm amid uncertain times, according to study.
