Stop scrolling endlessly on negative news and worrying about your future and bad kismet, Experts shed some light on the positive approach
Bad news travels fast. It’s time to ditch “doomscrolling” and live life to the fullest! Doomscrolling, this bleak-sounding word, refers to the tendency of mindlessly scanning social media handles to feed oneself with bad and negative news. If you spend hours going through negative news, then yes you are a “doomscroller.” Some people have this 24x7 urge to consume negative news and then worry endlessly – right from Salman Khan’s flop films to economy, climate change, next pandemic, and everything else in between. What’s worse is that doomscrolls justifying doomscrolling. The common justification is: “It’s okay. I just want to stay informed.” Excess negative information overload is detrimental to anybody!
Nous For News
Aparna Verma, Counselling psychologist & Co-Founder of Mano-vriti from Bangalore, says, “There are many psychological and behavioural reasons related to endless browsing. It starts with the concept of ‘negative bias’. Negative bias is a tendency where humans pay more attention to negative information.”
She explains that it is common for humans to perceive threats as more fulfilling rewards.
Aparna adds, “It’s also the Gen-Z notion of FOMO aka fear of missing out that enters the picture”. Explaining that many people feel a compulsive need to stay updated, especially in uncertain times. They may even think that being constantly informed protects them.
Often, doomscrolling starts with a simple nudge. A goal of becoming more aware of a situation so as to stay prepared for what comes next. However, what’s worrisome is that this goal may soon turn into an obsession.
Aparna says, “Doomscrolling also serves as a form of escapism to many, a distraction from personal stress, offering a temporary sense of disconnect from immediate life.”
This phenomenon broadly has a lot to do with the brain’s amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for sensing and detecting threats. It’s here that this area gets a beeping alarming sound to stay alert when it is fed with distressing content. Aparna shares that the brain gets ‘addicted’ to this conditioned feeding. And people soon become victims who are drawn to alarming content. The reason is simple – their nervous system has now somehow associated being ‘alarmed’ as being ‘informed’.
Causes & Triggers
Before the advent of the Internet, our natural search for information was limited. News came to us either via evening or morning news bulletins. However, social media has changed it to a 24x7 news dump! Riddhi Doshi Patel, Child Psychologist & Parental Counsellor shows how algorithms and AI have hijacked the news consumption process today. She says, “If you surf something on Google, the same content gets reflected over other handles as well, the algorithm keeps following you.” This keeps people hooked to social media and their screens. Unfortunately, the algorithm just keeps dumping them with the same category of news. Riddhi says, “When we are constantly consuming distressing news our brain enters the space of execrated worry. It hampers sleep cycles and emotions.”
Doomscrolling has worsened since the pandemic. During the pandemic, people were cut off due to social distancing. Everybody relied heavily on news and screen feeds. The habit has simply continued.
Doomed & Damned
Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha are the most susceptible groups. Today’s digital natives (teenagers) are vulnerable primarily due to identity formation, peer influence or fragile emotional regulation system. “They find it difficult to differentiate between healthy and harmful content,” rues Aparna.
Teenagers are deeply embedded in the social media culture. They often experience high levels of uncertainty about the future. Riddhi says, “Age groups are equally susceptible to doomscrolling. Each age category has a different but ‘justifying’ reason to hook onto their screens.”
Break The Chain
While doomscrolling is more of a habit that needs tweaks, identifying that it serves as a problem for starters could help. Mindful consumption patterns may prove beneficial in breaking this vicious cycle. Aparna’s advice: “Reducing screen time helps regain control over impulsive scrolling allowing people to also assess how and why they are using their devices.” Other measures could include asking yourself “Why am I logging in or What am I looking for?”
Aparna opines that a good ‘self-scan’ post consuming negative news could help. It starts by taking a two-minute pause, allowing the body to process what you have just consumed, followed by deep breathing which allows the nervous system to reset. Riddhi opines that turning to old-school ways helps. Be it by visiting an old library, engaging in pottery or gardening and having compulsory weekly digital breaks. Doomscrolling may seem overwhelming. It’s wiser to pause and ponder before you slide down the rabbit hole.
Quotes: If you have surfed something on Google, you have the same content reflect over other handles as well; the algorithm keeps following you”
— Riddhi Doshi Patel, Child Psychologist & Parental Counsellor
Doomscrolling also serves as a form of escapism to many, a distraction from personal stress, offering a temporary sense of disconnect from immediate life”
— Aparna Verma, Co-Founder of Manovriti, Counselling Psychologist, Bengaluru
