Whether the day has just begun, it’s lunch time at work, or it’s time to return home from a long day at school or work, many have experienced the moment of getting comfortable, opening social media and beginning to scroll. Even if short-form videos only last a few seconds, they can lead the mind into an endless cycle. Despite being able to physically put an end to the hours-long scroll, there is something so alluring about staring into this small rectangle of a screen for hours that drives our brain into a wonderland.
This experience is often referred to as Doomscrolling, the act of constantly scrolling through online news and other posts. Although this activity may start by wanting to relax, stay informed or relate to others, it leads to a dangerous path that many are unknowingly following. Companies like TikTok and Meta build their programs to psychologically draw the consumer in. With each video that pops up, each second one stays on the app, these companies build a personal algorithm that’s a reflection of what that consumer enjoys seeing, what they will stay to see, and what grabs their attention.
A 2021 Pew Research Center survey found that 84% of U.S. adults ages 18 to 29 used social media, compared with 72% of adults overall. Additionally, the surveyed people reportedly spend around 6-7 hours per day on an “internet connected screen.”
Doomscrolling may appear harmless until the content consists of negative information and begins to overload the mind. As humans have evolved, we are biologically formed to recognize dangers or threats in order to increase chances of survival.
However, consistently being exposed to bad news may trigger an unnecessary alertness.
Although a person may begin by watching a relatable video about daily struggles, the next video might discuss the loss of women’s rights in Afghanistan, followed by the report that AI data centers are consuming billions of gallons of water, then another video concerning abortion rights, and finally a video detailing female minors who are returning pregnant from ICE detention centers that only officials have access to.
It’s a heartbreaking cycle with each video that pops up adding onto already boiling stress. Disregarding this negative news makes us feel as though we are disregarding the pain others are suffering. Staying informed about major events occurring statewide and nationwide is crucial, but facing constant stressful news on social media leads to chronic stress. In a 2017 American Psychological Association survey, more than half of U.S. adults reported that following the news caused them stress.
According to Mayo Clinic, perceived threats can trigger the release of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body to respond to danger. Adrenaline temporarily raises heart rate and blood pressure, while prolonged exposure to stress hormones can interfere with memory and concentration and increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, if the body stays in this alarm stage through chronic stress, the physical and mental energy of the individual continues to drain, leading to increased risk of anxiety, burnout, and fatigue.
Social media has become a digital parasite, trying to consume the viewer while adapting to its body, making it harder to separate, harder to reject its need for a host.
The solution is … not another application that guarantees it will get rid of your Doomscrolling addiction, but actually getting off your phone. Talk to people more, not the kind of talking you do on a daily basis, but get to know people in moments where you would rather go on your phone. Be comfortable in the silent moments, fully taking in that your responsibilities won’t go away and recognizing that there is a beauty in finding hobbies you personally enjoy rather than staring at a bright screen for hours on end. Get your mind back and get your life back.
