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. )

Example Sentences

Rather than doomscrolling your way around this economic pothole, spare a thought for the good people of California who face gas prices of $5 or $6 a gallon, traditionally the highest in the country.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Rosie Okatcha, an influencer from the U.K., proclaimed the year would be “The Age of Analog” with consumers swapping music streaming for iPods and vinyl records, and choosing crafting over doomscrolling.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 21, 2026

If you’re under 50, no one you know posts on Facebook anymore; Instagram is for posting photo dumps and curating an aesthetic for your co-workers; and TikTok is for doomscrolling.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2025

Here’s the catch: School usually ends around 3 p.m., but doomscrolling doesn’t.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

It also wants a two-hour "doomscrolling cap" limiting how long under-18s can access TikTok-style video clips.

From BBC • Sep. 22, 2025