What does Doomscrolling mean?
Doomscrolling is the compulsive act of obsessively scrolling through negative news and distressing social media content.
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Slang. Also written doomsurfing.
Where it comes from
The word appeared on Twitter around 2018 and went mainstream in 2020, when people spent the pandemic refreshing grim news. It blends "doom" with the endless-scroll feeds that make stopping hard.
How it is actually used
The term is used to describe a habit of consuming distressing news long past the point of being informed, often resulting in heightened anxiety. While originally tied to major global events, it is now used more casually to describe any late-night, unproductive scrolling session. On brand accounts, it should be used with care due to its association with mental distress. However, it can be employed lightheartedly to acknowledge relatable, late-night habits.
Examples
- "me at 3 a.m. doomscrolling through drama I am not involved in"
- "had to put the phone down, the doomscrolling was getting out of hand"
- "instead of doomscrolling, please look at this picture of a baby otter"
Can a brand use it? Depends on context
Relatable but inherently tied to anxiety and negative news. Keep any brand usage light and focused on minor, humorous obsessions rather than genuine crises.
Related terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What does doomscrolling mean?
The compulsive habit of scrolling through an endless feed of negative news or distressing social media posts, even when it causes anxiety.
Where did doomscrolling come from?
It appeared on Twitter around 2018 and became widely used during the 2020 pandemic.
Is doomscrolling bad for you?
Research links heavy doomscrolling to anxiety, stress and poor sleep, which is why people are often advised to set screen limits or simply log off.
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