Doomscrolling

I am absolutely fascinated how we, the human race, have the ability to continually invent new words as we evolve and create our world.  And not just slang words… words that actually officially get added to the dictionary!  As I get older, they are seemingly more humorous and I am finding quite a bit of delight in trying to work some of these new words into my vocabulary.  You know, so I can still feel hip!!! 

A few weeks ago, my husband told me I spend a lot of time doomscrolling.  My first reaction was, “ohhh you’ve been listening to CBC radio again, haven’t you?’  But then I kind of got defensive that he was labelling me as a doomscroller!  I definitely tend towards being a ‘scroller’ but I don’t think I am a doomscroller as I actually avoid the news and horrifying world events that are happening in order to try and maintain some semblance of sanity! (And by the way, he did hear the term while listening to CBC!)  

Just for the record, I do not nearly like the term ‘doomscrolling’ as much as I like the word ‘infobesity’ but they both deserve some attention! 

Doomscrolling is not even that new of a word – its origin is unclear, but it is thought to have been used on social media in the late 2010’s but gained prominence in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Oxford English Dictionary named ‘doomscrolling’ as one of its ”Words of the Year in 2020” and added it to their dictionary that same year.  Apparently, the Merriam-Webster dictionary was a little more cautious and wanted to see if it would stick around, so it didn’t get added to their dictionary till September 2023.  Their definition of doomscrolling reads: 

to spend excessive time online scrolling through news or other content that  makes one feel sad, anxious, angry, etc. 

Spending time and effort watching or reading about the mayhem and chaos from around the world is not really a new phenomenon.  We used to just have to wait till the newspaper got delivered or the evening news came on the telly.   

Once again, having news and information at our fingertips can be both a blessing and a curse. 

We’ve traded the waiting game for instant access, and while it can be empowering to stay informed, the endless stream of updates has a way of pulling us into an emotional vortex.  Suddenly, that quick peek at your phone has turned into an hour of sifting through distressing headlines, and you’re left feeling weighed down by events far beyond your control. 

The science behind doomscrolling shows that it can create a vicious cycle.  Negative news triggers the brain’s stress response, releasing cortisol and making it harder to step away.  And yet, we keep scrolling, hoping to stumble upon something reassuring… only to find more doom and gloom.  It’s like rummaging through a pile of bad news hoping to find a treasure that isn’t there. 

I don’t think I am alone when I say that 2025 is probably going to be a doomscroll worthy year and we may be in for a bit of a roller coaster ride filed with stress and many unknowns.  

So, what can we do about it?  

First, awareness is key.  Simply recognizing the behavior can help you take a step back.  Setting time limits on social media or news consumption is another effective strategy.  And of course, prioritizing self-care through activities like mindful breathing or movement (see how I slipped that in there?!?!) can counteract the stress of doomscrolling. 

Ultimately, we can’t control the fact that the world sometimes feels chaotic, but we can control how much of that chaos we allow into our daily lives.  So, the next time you catch yourself falling down the doomscrolling rabbit hole, maybe take a moment to pause, breathe, and remember—you’re not obligated to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.  

Logging off might just be the kindest thing you can do for yourself. ❤️