Ever noticed how one “breaking news” story leads you to another… and suddenly it’s midnight? That’s doomscrolling—the endless cycle of consuming negative headlines that feels impossible to escape. Scientists say our brains are wired to pay more attention to threats (a survival instinct), so each alarming update releases stress hormones like cortisol that keep us hooked. It’s why scrolling disasters can feel addictive, even though it leaves us more anxious, sleepless, and distracted.
Research links doomscrolling to higher anxiety, depression, poor focus, and insomnia. It tricks the brain into believing constant news-checking equals safety, when in reality, it’s draining our mental energy. The good news? You can fight back: set screen time limits, replace doomscrolling with uplifting content or hobbies, and even follow positive news pages.
For students and curious minds, remembering that knowledge should empower, not exhaust is the real game-changer. So the next time your thumb hovers over “just one more headline,” ask yourself—am I learning, or just feeding the doom cycle?
Source:BBC Future / Psychology Today / American Psychological Association