Doomscrolling

According to psychologists, the phenomenon of doomscrolling is characterized by the compulsive consumption of negative news and is deeply rooted in human evolutionary biology rather than just a modern lack of self-control.

From: https://www.facebook.com/share/18172XtVqX/

Susan Tapert (2025), a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, highlights what happening with our brain while we are doomscrolling:

“When we encounter alarming news or other information, the emotional center of our brain, the limbic system, revs up. The amygdala, the center of fear and other emotions, sends stress signals and urges us to keep scanning for threats. Doomscrolling may satisfy this urge, as each update keeps us hypervigilant, as if staying glued to the news might protect us from danger”.

Research suggests our brains have a negativity bias, an evolutionary trait that focuses more on threatening or negative information (Tapert 2025).

Illustration image from: https://medium.com/@allykaymoms/caught-in-the-web-of-doom-scrolling-69e36819f7ea

Complementing this biological perspective, Cory Smith (2025), a senior lecturer in psychology at Middle Georgia State University (MGA), explains that doomscrolling acts as an “ancient threat-detection system running wild in the digital age”. This behavior is particularly detrimental because it often stems from an “intolerance of uncertainty,” where the user believes that more information will provide control, though it actually leads to “increased psychological distress” (SATICI et al, 2023; apud SMITH, 2025) 

Research around the world indicates that this habit is a significant predictor of existential anxiety, stress, and a decrease in overall life satisfaction (SATICI et al, 2023; apud SMITH, 2025) 

According to The Mental Health Foundation (2021), here are some signs of doomscrolling : 

• Scrolling for much longer than you meant to.
• Checking for news updates multiple times an hour. 
• Feeling emotionally drained or “numb” after your scrolling sessions. 
• Struggling to “switch off” from the outside world 

The impact of this constant exposure is not uniform across the population. Tapert (2025) highlights that 

“Spending hours immersed in distressing news can fuel anxiety and depression and interfere with sleep. For someone predisposed to anxiety or low mood, scrolling upsetting stories can worsen those feelings and potentially reinforce negative thoughts, leading to a spiral in which anxiety leads to more scrolling, which in turn leads to more anxiety. Sleep problems may follow from scrolling the news, particularly if done late at night in bed. The brain stays stimulated and stressed, instead of winding down”.

Furthermore, Smith (2025) points out that 

“Personality also plays a major role. Individuals high in neuroticism (a tendency toward emotional instability and worry) and those lower in conscientiousness (self-discipline and impulse control) or agreeableness (cooperativeness and trust) seem especially prone to doomscrolling.”

This vulnerability is also influenced by genetic factors, which shape how different people seek out and react to digital environments (AYORECH et al., 2023; apud SMITH, 2025). To reduce these effects, both experts emphasize the need for intentionality over compulsion. Tapert (2025) suggests practical boundaries, such as disabling news notifications and establishing “no-phone zones” to protect mental well-being and sleep quality. Similarly, Smith (2025) advocates for “scheduled scrolls” and the practice of gratitude to redirect the brain’s attention away from threat cues. Ultimately, as stated by  Tapert (2025), while staying informed is important, your life and well-being are most important.

REFERENCES 

SMITH, Cory. Inside the Psychology of Doomscrolling: Why It Happens And How to Stop. Interview by Sheron Smith. Middle Georgia State University (MGA) News, 3 Nov. 2025. Acessed: 22 mar. 2026.

TAPERT, Susan. Doomscrolling again? Expert explains why we’re wired for worry. Interview by Sara Bock. UC San Diego Today / University of California, 10 abr. 2025. Accessed: 22 mar. 2026.

MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION. Doomscrolling: tips for healthier news consumption. London, (2021). Acessed: 22 mar. 2026.