What does this slang term mean?

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Doomscrolling Meaning - Streetionary

Doomscrolling (noun / Internet Slang)

(Also heard as: Doomscroll, Doom scrolling, Doomsurfing)

Definition:

Doomscrolling is the habit of endlessly scrolling through bad news on your phone, even though it makes you feel anxious or sad. You keep reading one more headline, one more post, and before you know it an hour has gone. It is usually done late at night.

Where Doomscrolling Comes From:

The word appeared on Twitter around 2018 and spread widely during the pandemic in 2020, when people were glued to news about the crisis. Merriam-Webster and other dictionaries have since added it, and it was shortlisted as a word of the year. It is used across the UK and the USA.

How People Actually Use Doomscrolling:

People use it as a confession, such as “I was doomscrolling until 3am”. It is also used as a warning to friends. Doctors and mental health charities have discussed it as a habit that can harm sleep and mood, so many people try to limit screen time before bed.

Is Doomscrolling the Same as Scrolling?

No. Scrolling is just browsing. Doomscrolling is specifically about negative content that you cannot stop reading.

Examples in the Wild:

“I should be asleep, but I am doomscrolling again.”
Meaning: I am reading upsetting news instead of resting.
“Stop doomscrolling and go outside.”
Meaning: Put the phone down and take a break.
“Election week was pure doomscrolling.”
Meaning: I spent days reading stressful updates.