How doomscrolling seems throughout totally different generations — and the right way to handle it

Doomscrolling seems totally different throughout totally different age ranges and folks with totally different experiences.

Doomscrolling is when a tool person struggles to cease themselves from persevering with to devour destructive content material, significantly information, on-line. The phenomenon turned intensely studied across the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts say it results in quite a lot of destructive results, together with increased anxiety and decreased productivity.

Allison Nguyen is an assistant professor within the Illinois State University Psychology Department. She researches and teaches about how folks talk on-line, together with in political conversations.

“We live in a 24/7 news environment. We are constantly being bombarded with news stories, with current events, world events, things like that. And it’s really hard to stay away from these things,” stated Nguyen. “Negative news triggers strong emotions in us. And we know from previous research that this is something that makes us keep reading. It keeps us trapped in the news cycle, it makes us want to see more.”

Generational divides

Doomscrolling impacts all generations, however youthful individuals are essentially the most closely impacted. A 2024 study confirmed about one-third of Americans reported experiencing doomscrolling, however that quantity was considerably greater for Gen Z at 53%, with millennials not far behind.

“When I’m doomscrolling, I feel like I get very distracted. I lose track of time, and I’m not able to really stop scrolling,” stated Samantha Masino, an ISU freshman from Orland Park, a southeast Chicago suburb.

Young individuals are more and more at-risk attributable to how they use their telephones — loads. Lilly Jeanes, an incoming ISU freshman who can also be from Orland Park, makes use of her cellphone day by day for apps like TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, FaceTime and textual content messaging. She stated these apps assist her join with family and friends, however admits doomscrolling can have an effect on her productiveness.

“Not really during the day, like during the day it’s something I use for a little bit of entertainment for five to 10 minutes. But at night, definitely, I find myself doomscrolling,” stated Jeanes.

Those belonging to older generations usually use their telephones in several methods.

Paul Castellano, a Chicago resident who helped his son transfer into his freshman dorm throughout ISU move-in, makes use of his cellphone upwards of 4 hours every day.

“I don’t own a computer, so everything I basically do is on my phone,” stated Castellano.

Castellano is retired and stated he makes use of his cellphone solely in between day by day duties.

“In between tasks I’m on my phone constantly, but I’m so mission driven, when I do have a task, I do it,” stated Castellano.

Brad Lucht, a pastor from Normal, additionally makes use of his cellphone however not for social media.

“I canceled all my accounts a couple years ago because they were taking up too much of my time. I didn’t have good self-discipline, so I decided to just cut them all off,” stated Lucht. “And my kids don’t have social media, my wife doesn’t, just as a family, we don’t have any social media anymore.”

He stated it has had a optimistic affect on his life.

“I am way more attentive with my family and the people that I’m with, way more willing to set up times to meet with people and just get out and do stuff. So it’s way better,” stated Lucht.

Lucht added he would encourage younger folks to steer clear of social media, very similar to his youngsters have.

Jeanes could also be open to the thought of placing private limits on her cellphone utilization, in some unspecified time in the future.

“But as of right now, I don’t see myself doing that, because I found a great balance between watching it and getting what I need to do done, and hanging out with people in real life and social experiences, and not just TikTok and my phone,” stated Jeanes.

Lessening the consequences of doomscrolling

Nguyen, the ISU professor, provided a number of methods for folks to raised their relationships with their telephones.

One method is by checking in with your personal feelings — by asking whether or not the media being engaged with is making you’re feeling indignant or unhappy. Another technique is to maintain higher observe of time and restrict your scrolling. Lastly, broadening what information you devour can also be useful, stated Nguyen.

“‘Am I only looking at negative news? Am I also looking at positive news? Am I looking at global news? Am I looking at local news? Am I looking at news sources from across different spectrums and different political opinions?'” said Nguyen.

Nguyen added that when a social media app is free, it still comes at a cost to the consumer.

“The algorithms are really designed on these things to keep you on the apps, because the more you engage, the more data they collect on you,” said Nguyen. “And that’s stuff they will promote. So it is actually worthwhile to do that form of factor.”