The Consequences of Doomscrolling and How to Limit it?
Since the start of the COVID19 pandemic, the act of doomscrolling has become a pressing issue for those with access to a mobile device and social media platforms. Webster's dictionary defines doomscrolling as spending large amounts of time scrolling through news that makes you feel sad or angry. Of course, during the lockdown period of COVID-19 all of us were glued to our phones and social media platforms more than ever before. On top of this, we still had news networks on television providing us with 24/7 coverage. Whether it be the ever-rising death tolls of COVID-19 taking up a portion of the screen to remind viewers of serious threat this virus posed, or the economy tanking and inflation on the climb. All this negativity being pushed out constantly can and will result in people developing health issues. Some examples include insomnia, panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. Clearly, the consequences of doomscrolling are very serious and can be applied to the 24/7 news cycle as well. However, it is important to remember we can limit and prevent these issues from occurring through our own actions. Whether it's going for walks, reading books, spending time with loved ones, or even finding positive news outlets. Limiting screen time can serve as a great tool for your mental health to receive a break from the stresses of the world being directly fed to it daily.
What Doomscrolling Is and How To Stop
View of Doomscrolling – threat to Mental Health and Well-being: A Review
DOOMSCROLL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Rodrigues E. Doomscrolling – threat to Mental Health and Well-being: A Review. Int J Nur Res. 2022;8(4):127-130.
I agree that doomscrolling has become a pressing issue in modern society. The part that is odd about doomscrolling is that we bring it on ourselves. The algorithms of social media often show us similar posts based on posts we have previously interacted with (liked, commented, shared, etc.). So why do we like to consume and interact with such negative media? Charlie Kirk's death, for example, has blown up on social media, yet this issue does not exactly make people feel good. In contrast, the war and famine in Gaza are not viral in the same sense. What is the difference?
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the term "doomscrolling" prior to your post so I found this interesting. I will say that during Covid, I actually disconnected cable because I found myself watching the news 24/7, especially when the murder of George Floyd happened leading to the Black Lives Matter movement. It is interesting that as Kimber mentioned, the algorithms of social media show us posts that we have previously interacted with, while at the same time AI and bots are spreading political rhetoric based on ideology of the outlets we are receiving our news from. This is leading to the further spread of mis/disinformation and can even lead to the spread of fake news.
ReplyDeleteI agree that doomscrolling has become more prominent in modern society. It is an issue that needs to be addressed in a public manner. People are unknowingly becoming addicted to social media, whether the news is validated or not, or has been credited by a reliable source. It is a significant problem that big corporations have begun to control the news, as it has become politicized, and they only cover what they deem necessary to inform the public. The news should always cover a wide range of topics, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. For example, the Watergate scandal is something that Americans should know about because it was a significant event that the public should be made aware of.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I do feel there is a strong correlation between doom scrolling and mental and physical health issues. Technology is highly addictive and limits us just as much as it can help us. We as a people are becoming more radicalized in our opinions and less empathetic to other people, due to the media controlling narratives while pushing harsh rhetoric.
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