doomscrolling

American  

[doom-skroh-ling] / ˈdumˌskroʊ lɪŋ /

Or doom-scrolling

noun

Digital Technology.

1. the practice of obsessively checking online news for updates, especially on social media feeds, with the expectation that the news will be bad, such that the feeling of dread from this negative expectation fuels a compulsion to continue looking for updates in a self-perpetuating cycle.

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Etymology

Origin of doomscrolling

First recorded in 2016; doomscroll ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

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Explanation

Doomscrolling is the act of endlessly scrolling through bad news, seemingly unable to stop yourself even when you know it’s dragging you down. Doomscrolling often leaves people overwhelmed or anxious. This behavior became more common with the rise of smartphones and social media, where bad news is always just a swipe away. Instead of looking away, doomscrolling keeps you glued to the screen, drawn into a cycle of worry. Understanding doomscrolling can help you break free from the habit and take control of your screen time.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

doomscrolling

The series is the couple’s prescribed antidote to the social media doomscrolling they call “internet indigestion.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

After several weeks of this doomscrolling, she deleted all of her social media apps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

The teacher is also on board with the government's plans to ban social media for under-16s outside of school because of the effects of doomscrolling and short-form, snappy videos.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Perhaps a lesson in what happens when you try to make doomscrolling illegal?

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

This is precisely why we turn to art, which probes both truth and beauty: the enemies of doomscrolling.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

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