The morning of the overwhelming majority of modern people begins with reading the news on their smartphones. Throughout the day, we look at the screen of our mobile device countless times: we open news websites, Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and scroll through our feeds for hours.

At first glance, there is nothing wrong with this. However, according to studies, people subconsciously seek out negative news. Why do they attract us so much? Is uncontrolled scrolling harmful? How can we combat this?

Let's try to figure it out.

Why do we seek negative news?

Subconsciously, humans are inclined to search for bad news. This is due to evolutionary processes. In the past, in order to survive, people had to be particularly sensitive to dangers.

Our ancestors had to be especially attentive to indicators of life-threatening situations. Therefore, the modern human brain instinctively "looks out" for such threats. The longer we scroll through news online, the more dangers we find.

If an average person reads mundane or not-so-strange news, they might find it interesting but not emotionally react. However, something potentially threatening or alarming instantly grabs attention and stimulates the imagination. The brain records these reactions — a tendency to focus on more negative information is formed.

Moreover, all mass social phenomena instantly trend. For example, three years ago, it was impossible to avoid horrific news and discussions about COVID-19.

In such a situation, many may feel a certain pressure from society. It is perceived as if one is being forced to accept a particular opinion. People unconsciously start looking for information that confirms the correctness of their viewpoint. Yet, they only sink deeper into negativity. Thus, uncontrolled scrolling, unfortunately, only worsens the situation.

How does reading bad news affect our lives?

The internet provides us with instant access to news:

• we have the opportunity to stay informed about current events (for example, the most searched name of famous people who passed away in 2022 was Zhirinovsky);
• to use information for our own benefit;
• and we can also gain a sense of control over the situation.

But the more we worry, the more we want to control the situation and the people around us. Many believe that being well-informed is a great way to manage what’s happening.

However, in reality, according to psychologists, this only leads to greater anxiety. And our awareness cannot influence the global course of events. Probably, except in situations involving rescue. Or finding vital items (for example, the most popular search request at the end of 2022 in the "Shopping" category was generator).

What does the term "doomscrolling" mean?

Doomscrolling  is the excessive and uncontrolled consumption of negative news on social media or other content-sharing platforms.

The English term doomscrolling arises from the combination of the words doom (darkness or evil) and scrolling (quickly flipping through pages online). In other words, doomscrolling is an endless "feed of alarming news."

Since February 24, 2022, almost every Ukrainian using a smartphone has encountered the phenomenon of doomscrolling. For many, it has become one of the only options to fill the void of uncertainty. By the way, the top search in Google in 2022 in Ukraine was "air raid alerts map."

Experts consider doomscrolling to be a significant problem that hinders people's ability to maintain critical thinking. It is hard to argue with this, as many would agree that at some point, any communication turns into an exchange of what has been "scrolled" throughout the day. This seems to be a protective reaction, a way to find understandable scenarios for the situation's development.

It should also be noted that each of us has different sensitivities to news with high emotional involvement. Specialists differentiate between two types of people: some can abstract from the information received (not "filter" it through themselves), while others constantly think about bad news. This negatively affects their well-being. Therefore, there is no positive effect from endlessly scrolling through news feeds: it does not reduce but only increases anxiety. 

What is the danger of doomscrolling?

Essentially, any action that we cannot control automatically becomes a problem. The obsessive need to find answers, regardless of how good or bad the news is, turns into a vicious circle:

1. The more time we spend scrolling through news feeds, the more threats we discover.
2. The more we read about them, the more we worry.
3. The more we worry, the more everything around seems dangerous.
4. Eventually, we return to social media in search of information that might help us find a way out of danger. It’s no surprise that in Google search queries over the past year, the most popular figure has been Arestovych. His phrasing and soft tone of voice have indeed become a "soothing" presence for many. 

Doomscrolling is a destructive phenomenon

"Measured" use of social media does not cause harm. However, intensive (unhealthy) monitoring of news can provoke feelings of helplessness and heightened anxiety:

• sleep and eating behaviors are disrupted;
• there is a desire to eat or drink away negativity;
• cognitive functions decrease;
• negative thinking can turn into aggression, and then into apathy or depressive states.

Thus, the overall quality of life deteriorates. Why? Because doomscrolling distracts us from our own thoughts and feelings. And this is dangerous for emotional health.

Studies have shown that most respondents are not fully aware of how strongly this can affect their psyche. Many tend to catastrophize the future, feeling incapable of maintaining normal productivity and carrying out routine tasks.

Therefore, doomscrolling is a completely destructive phenomenon. 

How to combat the negative habit?

First, acknowledge the problem and honestly admit to yourself that it exists. After that, take steps to eradicate it. Here are a few options.

Timing

You can start by limiting the time spent reading news and browsing social media. Set a screen time limit on your smartphone, and a limit for apps. Turn off notifications in messengers and social networks. Every sound signal triggers a reaction in us, so it’s worth keeping notifications only from close people and the most important apps or Telegram channels.

Break from reading news

You can take a mandatory break from "consuming" information for any comfortable amount of time. If you stop checking the news every 5-10 minutes, the surrounding reality will not change drastically. So it is essential to find the strength to "exit the matrix": a few hours of conscious break will not destroy the world.

Time for reflection

It is important not only to receive information but also to reflect on it. The human brain needs time for this. Unfortunately, we have already gotten used to heavy, scary, and even horrific news. However, it is vital to learn to consume information in moderation. This allows you to stay informed while not hindering your ability to live and work. It is easy to drown in huge amounts of mostly negative information. We should protect ourselves from this flow at least — and we are capable of doing so.

Positive events

Another recommendation is to note pleasant household and/or everyday events in your smartphone notes or personal diary. Even minor ones. This will help create a counterbalance to negativity and promote the harmonization of your emotional state.

Positive news

You can filter your news feed, setting it to show the most positive news. By the way, in contrast to doomscrolling, joyscrolling (from the English word joy) has emerged. For instance, many people searched for interesting movie and cartoon titles about Christmas, family, and adventures before the New Year. Essentially, this is a search for positive content.

Speaking of which, the most popular search request of 2022 under the hashtag #series was "House of the Dragon." And the leader in Google searches among feature films was "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

Significant purpose

Don’t forget to remind yourself why you opened the news feed and what exactly you are looking for. While immersing yourself in the news world, we must be aware of our purpose — otherwise, we risk losing ourselves in an endless sea of information.

Conclusion

Constantly consuming news without reflection can lead to a significant drop in emotional well-being. People must learn to recognize what and how often they check and analyze information on their devices. The presence of this "vicious circle" of negativity can be changed. Therefore, we must learn how to deal with it, avoiding the harmful phenomenon of doomscrolling.