What is Doomscrolling? Causes, Effects, and How to Overcome It

In the current digital era, almost everyone starts their day by picking up their mobile phone, whether to check social media, read the latest news, or simply see what is trending. However, without realising it, this habit can turn into something unhealthy: doomscrolling.

The term doomscrolling, or doomsurfing, is increasingly discussed in psychology because it relates to the habit of continuously consuming negative news or content on the internet, even though such information actually triggers anxiety, fear, sadness, and stress.

This phenomenon has become more common with the development of social media platforms designed to make users keep scrolling infinitely. As a result, a person can spend hours reading bad news without being aware of the impact on their mental and physical health.

Simply put, doomscrolling is the habit of continuously scrolling through social media or news portals to seek information, particularly negative news such as disasters, conflicts, economic crises, crime, and health issues. Ironically, many people feel that reading bad news will make them better prepared to face situations. In reality, the opposite occurs; the more negative information consumed, the higher the level of anxiety felt.

This habit becomes increasingly difficult to stop because social media algorithms tend to display content that provokes users’ emotions. Feelings of fear, anger, or curiosity make a person stay longer on the application, so the platform continues to serve similar content.

From a psychological perspective, doomscrolling arises because the human brain naturally seeks certainty when facing uncertain situations. When major events occur, such as a pandemic, international conflict, or natural disaster, many people are driven to continuously update themselves with information in the hope of gaining a sense of security. However, research conducted by Shabahang and colleagues in 2024 shows that the more frequently a person consumes negative news, the higher their levels of stress and anxiety. Instead of feeling calmer, the brain remains in a state of alert, thus encouraging the person to keep seeking the latest information. This condition is worsened by the infinite scroll feature, which removes any natural limit for stopping.

Social media usage in Indonesia is exceptionally high, making the phenomenon of doomscrolling a significant concern. Indonesia ranks among the top four countries globally for the number of social media users. The most active group is Generation Z, who on average spend between one and six hours a day on social media. Some five per cent of Gen Z users are even known to spend up to 10 hours a day accessing various digital platforms. Instagram remains the most widely used platform, followed by TikTok, X, and Facebook. With such high usage duration, the chance of continuous exposure to negative content also increases.

Various studies show that doomscrolling is closely linked to a decline in mental health. One of the most common effects is increased anxiety. Continuous exposure to negative information keeps the brain in a constant state of alert, making it difficult to feel calm. Furthermore, individuals who frequently doomscroll are more susceptible to prolonged stress, persistent negative thoughts, excessive fear of their surroundings, feelings of isolation and loneliness, difficulty concentrating, decreased productivity, and emotional exhaustion.

Research by Satici and colleagues in 2022 found that individuals with high levels of doomscrolling tend to experience greater stress and exhibit problematic social media usage patterns. Meanwhile, cross-cultural research by Shabahang and others in 2024 showed that this habit is linked to existential anxiety, a deep-seated anxiety about the future, life’s uncertainties, and the meaning of life. The American Psychological Association (APA) has also reported that excessive exposure to negative news can trigger news-related stress, which ultimately leads to mental fatigue.

The effects of doomscrolling do not stop at psychological conditions. The habit of spending hours in front of a screen while continuously reading negative news can affect physical health, leading to issues such as sleep disorders or insomnia, eye strain from staring at a screen for too long, headaches, increased blood pressure, chronic fatigue, and a heightened risk of heart disease due to prolonged stress. A lack of rest can also trigger oxidative stress in the body, which impacts overall health.

Anyone can experience doomscrolling, but some groups are at higher risk. These include people with high levels of anxiety, those experiencing fear of missing out (FOMO), social media users who are more often passive readers without interacting, and individuals who struggle to manage emotions when facing stressful situations. According to Güme in 2024, these factors make it easier for someone to become trapped in a repetitive cycle of seeking negative information. If anxiety caused by the news begins to disrupt daily activities, sleep quality, or work, there is no harm in consulting a psychologist for appropriate treatment.

Amid the relentless flow of information, staying updated is indeed important.