Media Burnout: The Rise of ‘Doomscrolling’ and Its Psychological Effects

In an era dominated by constant updates, trending tweets, and breaking news, there is a growing psychological fatigue of a new kind: doom scrolling. Defined as a compulsive scrolling through bad news, especially during times of crisis, the term was originally coined in the early 2020s. What might have started as a survival reflex to remain informed during the COVID-19 pandemic has by now turned into an everyday online habit—one that’s silently contributing to media fatigue and mass mental illness.

Doomscrolling preys on a paradox. People turn to their phones for answers, clarity, and control, especially when the world seems spiraling out of control. What results is an increasing wave of feelings of powerlessness and anxiety? In a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, over 60% of U.S. adults reported that the news hurt their mental health, with young adults being especially vulnerable.

Part of the danger lies in the way content is delivered. Social media algorithms function by keeping users on the site by displaying emotionally charged content. That also means that bad news, which generates more engagement, tends to be featured in feeds. Add to that the speed of information, real or not, and it is easy to get swept up in a digital whirlwind with no off switch. Doomscrolling not only impacts mood but alters sleeping patterns, reduces productivity, and results in long-term desensitization to pain.

Psychologists say that doom scrolling has to do with empathy directly. Humans must know, must help, and must understand. However, the human brain is not equipped for a constant intake of global suffering. “It’s emotional overload,” says Dr. Nina Jacobs, a clinical psychologist who studies media use and anxiety. “When exposure to suffering is nonstop, the body reacts with chronic stress.”

So what’s to do? Specialists suggest establishing digital boundaries: daily time allowances on news apps, turning off push notifications, and scheduling deliberate screen-free time. A healthier information diet—a more balanced one that includes positive news and local news—can help too. Most of all, perhaps, people are urged to take a step back, engage with their real-world communities, and regain a sense of agency.

Doomscrolling might feel obligatory, like a civic responsibility, but left unchecked, it is self-destructive. In a world in which attention is currency and anxiety so readily commodified, protecting one’s peace is not merely a personal choice—it is a public health measure.