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Doomscrolling: Why Negative Feeds Are Hard to Leave

Doomscrolling means repeatedly consuming distressing news or posts even as the activity worsens mood or interferes with daily life. Research links heavier negative-news exposure and problematic scrolling with distress, depression, trauma symptoms and fear of missing out, but much of the evidence is observational and…

Timeline

  1. 2020-03-01: The term spread widely as people repeatedly followed alarming pandemic news online.
  2. 2022-05-26: A prospective diary study of pandemic news exposure was published online before later appearing in a 2024 journal issue.
  3. 2024-05-09: A study of 603 adults reported associations among fear of missing out, emotion regulation, problematic social-media use and doomscrolling.
  4. 2026-10-11: Current research and practical mental-health guidance were reviewed for this guide.

Doomscrolling is the repeated consumption of upsetting news or posts, often long after a person intended to stop and despite feeling worse. The word became common during the COVID-19 pandemic, when safety information changed quickly and negative stories were abundant. It now covers similar loops around war, politics, disasters, climate and personal fears. Ordinary news reading is not automatically doomscrolling; the useful distinction is loss of control, emotional cost or interference with sleep and daily activities. [1][3]

The behavior can feel compelling for understandable reasons. Uncertainty creates a desire for fresh information, and a new item can briefly feel like progress toward safety or certainty. Fear of missing an important update may keep a person checking. Feeds remove natural stopping points and continually offer novel material. A 2024 study of 603 adults found relationships among fear of missing out, emotion-regulation patterns, problematic social-media use and doomscrolling, but its survey design does not make one factor a proven cause of another. [2]

Research supports concern about prolonged negative-media exposure while also requiring careful wording. A 30-day diary study found that greater social-media exposure was associated with increases in depression and post-traumatic-stress symptoms during the pandemic. A related prospective study reported links between daily COVID news exposure and internalizing symptoms in a specific sample. These findings concern associations in particular populations and circumstances; they do not establish that every troubling headline causes a mental-health disorder. [1][3]

Direction can run both ways. Distress may encourage more threat monitoring, while repeated exposure can add distress, creating a self-reinforcing loop. Personal history, the type of event, existing symptoms, social support and the purpose of checking all matter. Someone following an evacuation order has a different need from someone refreshing speculative commentary through the night. A useful response protects access to necessary information while reducing the repetitive consumption that no longer helps a decision. [1][2][3]

A first interruption is to add a stopping cue. Choose one or two reliable sources, check them at planned times, disable nonessential alerts and avoid taking the feed to bed. A timer, app limit or moving the news app off the home screen can add friction. Samaritans recommends noticing what triggers the scrolling, stepping back from endless feeds and balancing online activity with routines that support well-being. The goal is intentional use rather than a moral test of willpower. [4]

After stopping, replace the loop with a concrete action that changes attention or restores agency: stand up, drink water, contact someone, go outside, do a short task or write down what information is actually needed. The American Psychological Association recommends broader stress supports such as regular breaks from news, social connection, movement and relaxation practices. These steps are coping tools, not treatments for a diagnosed condition, and no single tactic works for everyone. [3][4]

News literacy also reduces unproductive checking. Separate verified updates from prediction, commentary and repeated footage; note the publication time; and ask whether another refresh can change what you do. For an urgent local risk, follow the responsible public authority and keep alerts needed for safety. For distant or slow-moving events, a scheduled summary may inform better than a continuous stream. Curating sources can lower repetition without requiring complete withdrawal from civic life. [3][4]

Consider extra support when scrolling repeatedly disrupts sleep, work, relationships or basic care, or when anxiety, low mood or trauma symptoms persist. A health professional can assess the whole picture rather than treating an internet label as a diagnosis. Anyone in immediate danger or thinking about self-harm should use local emergency or crisis services. Doomscrolling is a useful name for a common pattern; evidence supports setting boundaries, while the presence of the habit alone does not identify a disorder or its cause. [1][3][4]

Sources

  1. Psychological Trauma — Doomscrolling during COVID-19: daily media consumption and mental-health symptoms
  2. BMC Psychology — Emotion regulation, fear of missing out, problematic internet use and doomscrolling
  3. American Psychological Association — Media overload and headline stress
  4. Samaritans — Practical tips if you find yourself doomscrolling

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