What is doomscrolling: Impacts on teens and how to stop it

Why is it called doomscrolling?

The term “Doomscrolling” gained widespread prominence during the COVID-19 lockdowns, a time when many of us were glued to our screens seeking constant updates in an uncertain world. 

What counts as doomscrolling? 

Doomscrolling occurs when someone passes the point of simply gathering facts and falls into an obsessive cycle of consumption. Examples include:  

• Spending hours reading hostile comment sections on news articles. 
• Watching endless streams of short-form videos (such as TikToks or Instagram Reels), particularly videos with negative messaging or about global issues. 

Doomscrolling vs mindless scrolling 

Doomscrolling is the compulsive swiping through distressing, negative news or heavy emotional content. Mindless scrolling is passive, neutral binging on general entertainment or social media.  

The main difference is that doomscrolling triggers anxiety and emotional distress, while mindless scrolling usually just wastes time. 

It is perfectly healthy for teenagers to want to understand the world around them. However, there is a distinct line between staying informed and doomscrolling. 

Staying informed is intentional and time limited. A teenager might check a reputable news app for 10 minutes to understand a current event, process the information, and then put their phone away. This type of consumption empowers them to learn and take positive action. 

Doomscrolling is compulsive and boundless. It is driven by fear and a false sense that consuming more information will grant a feeling of control. Instead of providing clarity, this endless cycle triggers a stress response and leads to feelings of helplessness. If looking at the news makes a teenager feel paralysed rather than educated, they have crossed into doomscrolling. 

Doomscrolling taps into our evolutionary biology. Human brains are wired with a "negativity bias". In our early evolution, paying close attention to threats and bad news kept us alive. Today, our brains still react to negative news as if it were an immediate physical threat, forcing us to keep watching to "stay safe". 

For teenagers, this is amplified by their brain development. The prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for impulse control and self-regulation, is still maturing in adolescence]. This makes it significantly harder for young people to resist the urge to keep scrolling. 

How social media algorithms feed negative content 

Social media platforms use modern algorithms designed to maximise user engagement. Because human beings naturally focus on negative, shocking, or emotionally charged content, these posts generate the most clicks and comments.  

The algorithm learns this quickly and feeds the user an endless stream of similar distressing content to keep them on the app longer, creating a vicious, personalised cycle of negativity. 

Is doomscrolling bad for you? 

Yes. While technology offers many benefits for learning and connection, chronic doomscrolling has a demonstrably negative impact on a young person's health. 

Consuming a high volume of distressing content triggers the body’s 'fight, flight, or freeze' response. This causes a spike in stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.  

Over time, this constant state of high alert can lead to chronic anxiety, low mood, and emotional exhaustion. In recent UK surveys, 30% of people reported experiencing negative feelings specifically after mindless phone scrolling. 

How high screen time impacts sleep 

Teenagers require plenty of restful sleep for their physical and mental development. However, the blue light emitted by screens mimics daylight, which suppresses the brain's production of melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep). Furthermore, the emotional distress caused by doomscrolling keeps the mind racing, making it incredibly difficult to wind down. 

A 2026 UK Government study on social media restrictions found that when teenagers adhered to a digital curfew before bed, they reported going to sleep earlier, feeling significantly more rested, and experiencing reduced stress 

What to do instead of doomscrolling 

When the urge to doomscroll hits, teenagers should try to balance the negative with a positive action. 

• Engage in active problem-solving: Logic puzzles, reading, or playing strategy games support cognitive engagement and focus, acting as a healthy alternative to passive scrolling. 
• Take action on the issues you see: If a specific news story is causing distress, find a way to contribute positively, such as volunteering or raising awareness for a related charity. 
• Physical regulation: Exercise, walking outside, or practicing mindfulness can help reset an overstimulated nervous system. 

We know that growing up in a digital-first world presents unique and unprecedented challenges. We are dedicated to supporting young people’s wellbeing through our direct mental health services and advocacy. 

We campaign tirelessly for better online safety regulations to protect vulnerable young people from harmful digital environments.