Doomscrolling and Digital Overload: What's it really doing to our minds?

General
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We have all done it: opened our phones for a quick check and ended up scrolling through endless news, posts, or videos without realizing how much time has passed. This behavior often called doomscrolling has become part of daily life for many of us.

But what’s the cognitive and emotional cost of this digital habit?

  1. A 2021 research study published in the journal “Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking” found a strong association between doomscrolling and enhanced stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, specifically among people who consume large amounts of negative news or emotionally charged/pressing content.

  2. A 2022 research article in published in the journal “Technology, Mind, and Behavior” reported that frequent exposure to distressing online content can dysregulate emotional processing and can increase mental fatigue and result in lower resilience to daily stressors.

  3. A significant research from the journal “Nature Human Behaviour” (2023) also suggests that excessive passive social media use (like endless scrolling) is correlated with reduced momentary well-being, especially when it replaces active engagement or rest.

Interestingly, the problem is not just about screen time, but how we engage. Passive and reactive scrolling seems more draining than intentional digital use.

So, how often do you find yourself caught in a doomscrolling spiral?

Have you noticed any impact on your mood, sleep, focus, or stress levels?

What strategies (if any) have helped you create healthier digital habits?

It is time to reflect on how we use (and are used by) our devices and maybe rethink how we can make this relationship healthier.

Drop your thoughts below.

1 Like
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I’ve put up a timer on all my apps like I’ve basically limited them
And when the timer shows u get alerted and stops the continuous flow of using it without realising how much time you spent

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@DrSuneeti-Yemberi That’s a nice way to have a regulation on screen-viewing. Thanks for sharing that.