Patna: For many people, the day now begins not with conversation or calm, but with a phone screen. From the moment they wake up — and sometimes even while sitting in the toilet — users scroll endlessly through social media feeds. What they often encounter is a steady stream of negative headlines, distressing images and alarming updates. Experts say this habit, known as doomscrolling, is quietly taking a toll on mental health.
The term “doomscrolling” entered common usage during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, when lockdowns confined people to their homes and glued them to their phones. News feeds were dominated by rising death tolls, hospital crises and uncertainty about the future. Many people found themselves scrolling late into the night and resuming the habit as soon as they woke up. In 2023, the word was formally added to dictionaries, reflecting how widespread the behaviour had become.
Experts describe doomscrolling as the compulsive consumption of negative news on social media and websites. The word combines “doom”, meaning disaster or destruction, with “scrolling”, the act of moving endlessly through digital content. While staying informed is important, specialists warn that excessive exposure to distressing information can act like a slow poison for the mind, reinforcing fear and pessimism.
Research suggests that heavy social media use, particularly when focused on negative content, can worsen anxiety and stress, deepen feelings of loneliness and encourage unhealthy comparisons with others. Doomscrolling often feeds on emotional vulnerability: when people feel anxious or low, they tend to seek out information that confirms those feelings, trapping them in a harmful cycle of overthinking and emotional distress.
The effects are not limited to mental health alone. Experts say doomscrolling disrupts sleep, especially when people scroll before bedtime, a time when the brain should be winding down. Constant exposure to alarming content also activates stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, increasing restlessness and leading to mental and physical exhaustion over time. For those already struggling with anxiety or stress, the habit can intensify symptoms and, in some cases, trigger panic attacks.
Specialists advise setting clear limits on social media use, curating feeds to include more positive and balanced content, and making time for offline activities. Staying informed without becoming overwhelmed, they say, is essential. In a digital world saturated with bad news, protecting mental wellbeing may begin with knowing when to stop scrolling.
(Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not claim scientific certainty. Readers are advised to consult qualified medical professionals for personalised advice.)
