The term "doomscrolling" describes the act of persistently consuming negative news or information online, particularly through social media or news websites. This behavior is characterized by the compulsive tendency to continuously check and read bad news on digital platforms, even when such content induces feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or depression. Individuals engaging in this behavior often obsessively scroll through online news feeds expecting negative updates, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of dread and the compulsion to seek more bad news. This habitual action of endlessly surfing through distressing news articles or social media posts is frequently associated with mental health issues such as increased stress, anxiety, or depression. Additionally, the practice involves continually seeking out and consuming pessimistic or alarming news online, which can result in a constant state of high alert and negatively impact overall well-being.
The term "doomscrolling" encapsulates a modern digital behavior where individuals compulsively consume negative news online, often leading to increased anxiety and stress. Understanding its origin involves exploring its linguistic roots, the timeline of its emergence, and the societal factors that contributed to its widespread use. Linguistically, "doomscrolling" is a compound word combining "doom" and "scrolling." The word "doom" historically connotes fate, ruin, or unavoidable destruction. Its origins trace back to Anglo-Saxon and Old English, where it referred to judgment or decree, often associated with negative outcomes. "Scrolling" pertains to the act of moving through digital content, derived from the physical act of unrolling a scroll to read text. The term "scroll" entered the English language around 1400, originating from Old French "escroe," meaning a roll of parchment.
The exact origin of "doomscrolling" is somewhat nebulous, but it gained prominence in the late 2010s. The earliest known usage dates back to a 2018 tweet, marking its initial entry into public discourse. However, it wasn't until 2020, amid global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that the term saw widespread adoption. It was officially recognized in dictionaries in September 2023, reflecting its established presence in the English lexicon. Prior to this, the term had been noted as an emerging word, indicating its growing relevance.
Before "doomscrolling" became prevalent, similar behaviors were described using different terminology. "Mean World Syndrome," identified in the 1970s, describes the belief that the world is more dangerous than it is, resulting from prolonged exposure to violent content, primarily on television. "Doomsurfing" is a term akin to doomscrolling, referring to the compulsive consumption of negative news online, highlighting the broader scope of this behavior beyond just scrolling. Synonyms for doomscrolling include "feed the fear," "negative news binge," "spiral into bad news," "disaster scrolling," "anxiety scrolling," and "bad news rabbit hole." Variants of the term include "doomsurfing."
The term "doomscrolling" encapsulates a behavior deeply intertwined with modern technology and media consumption patterns. Its origin reflects a convergence of linguistic evolution, technological design, and psychological predispositions. As digital platforms continue to evolve, understanding terms like doomscrolling becomes essential in addressing the impacts of media consumption on mental health.
Doomscrolling is a textbook example of how a slang term moves from its original niche to the mainstream culture. Most slang terms bubble along in niche use for some period, often years, before some event causes them to explode into the public consciousness. This pattern is precisely what happened with doomscrolling. Doomscrolling is the habit of moving through one’s Twitter (or other social media app) feed with a dread of what bad news one may find there. The term has particular resonance in these (last) days of Trump and (hopefully last) days of the pandemic, but it predates both of these. It did, however, explode into the general public’s and mainstream news media’s consciousness in March 2020, with apprehension about the U.S. presidential election and the pandemic.
The first use of doomscrolling as we know it appears on Twitter on 8 October 2018, when @ahSHEEK tweeted: "thank u for breaking the spell of my doom-scrolling down my feed." Note that it is hyphenated here, and the eventual shift from open to hyphenated to closed compound is another standard process of word formation. But this is not the first association of scrolling through online media with a sense of dread. On 23 July 2011, William Todd Workman opened a blog post with: "The Money Supply, The Gold Standard and the Impending Doom. Scroll down the comments of any financial article published on Yahoo Finance and you will read predictions of impending economic disaster." It’s not a use of the term, just a co-location of its elements, doom and scroll, but it does associate the act of scrolling an online application with dread at what one may find. Workman’s title and opening line were quoted in a number of subsequent tweets.
And two years later, in the spring of 2013, a couple of tweets carried the same co-location and association. @SarahMAnderson1 tweeted on 22 March 2013: "Since my boy's home and I'm watching James & the Giant Peach and no work is occurring as I wait for a Call of Doom...#scrolling." And @IglooLondon tweeted on 2 April 2013: "Impending sense of doom, scrolling through that." Then three days later we see an actual use of the term doom scroll, but it’s a reference to a horizontally scrolling chyron on a television news program, not a person vertically scrolling through a social media app. @GH_Golden tweeted on 5 April 2013 about frustration while trying to watch the soap opera The Young and the Restless: "Trying to watch #YR but CBS has this impending doom scroll message about interruptions for a press conference."
Examples of the term in use include: "Why habitually check that inbox or doomscroll social media when you could sit back, relax and watch a pair of river otters paddle about via a livestream?" "… stop doomscrolling. You don't need to know every detail of every tragedy. And you certainly don't need to see what all those strangers on the internet think about it." "For the past two months I've spent big chunks of my day doomscrolling through bad news and preprint studies about mask effectiveness and virus transmission." "Like many in St. Louis, as the thunder roared in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, I sleeplessly doomscrolled Twitter to find reports of closed highways, first responders using boats, and later images of the Forest Park Metro stop and underpass flooded out."
Conclusion
Doomscrolling is a compound term describing the compulsive consumption of negative online content, deeply rooted in linguistic history and modern digital behavior. The term gained prominence during global crises, evolving from early online associations in 2011 and 2013 to widespread use in 2018 and 2020. It reflects a convergence of historical language, technological platforms, and psychological responses to distressing information. Recognizing the behavior and its linguistic background is a foundational step in addressing its impact on mental well-being.