doomscrolling
Doomscrolling refers to the act of continuously scrolling through social media or news feeds, even when the content is consistently depressing, alarming, or negative. The mental image is of someone hunched over their phone late at night, feeling a compulsive need to keep refreshing the screen despite the growing sense of anxiety or hopelessness it creates. It is primarily used in informal or conversational contexts to describe digital habits. It carries a sense of self-awareness or mild self-deprecation, as the speaker is usually acknowledging that the behavior is unhealthy but difficult to stop. It is frequently paired with verbs like "caught," "stuck," or "addicted to."
In conversation
Late night texting
Are you still awake? It's 3 AM.
Are you still awake? It's 3 AM.
Yeah, I got stuck doomscrolling about the economy again.
Yeah, I got stuck doomscrolling about the economy again.
Shows how the term is used to explain late-night insomnia caused by negative content.
Discussing habits
I had to delete Twitter off my phone.
I had to delete Twitter off my phone.
Good call, you were doomscrolling way too much lately.
Good call, you were doomscrolling way too much lately.
Highlights the perceived negative impact on mental health.
Examples
I spent an hour doomscrolling before bed.
I spent an hour doomscrolling before bed.
Constant doomscrolling can significantly increase your daily stress levels.
Constant doomscrolling can significantly increase your daily stress levels.
She found herself trapped in a cycle of doomscrolling, unable to look away from the unfolding headlines.
She found herself trapped in a cycle of doomscrolling, unable to look away from the unfolding headlines.
