A recent study published by the Journal of Computers in Human Behavior Reports has shown that doom-scrolling leads to anxiety, despair and distrust. The study surveyed 800 university students from the US and Iran and observed the impact doomscrolling had on the students.

But before delving into the findings of the studies, let’s understand what doomscrolling is.

Doomscrolling is an action of mindlessly scrolling through negative news which can be a result of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suggest experts. Usually, a person doomscrolls at night when he or she is free from work and is just about to hit the bed for a good night's sleep. Consuming negative content right before sleeping can harm your health and this is what the recent study has explored.

The study found out that those who doomscroll have a negative attitude towards life. For instance, their thoughts of life are that it is fragile and limited and that humans are fundamentally alone.

Along similar lines, last year, the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a public health advisor that linked the negative impact of social media on user’s lives. While Murthy did note the benefits of social media, which also includes a space for self-expression, the advisory also noted that it has a more lasting negative impact.

Similarly, the study of doomscrolling too is done along the same lines. Experts suggest that being on social media and constantly consuming negative content can lead to the risk of vicarious trauma. Vicarious trauma means second-hand trauma. This means that though a person is not directly impacted by the event, the constant consumption of the negative event through social media causes them to develop trauma.

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Earlier, these risks were prone to police, soldiers, psychologists or journalists. However, with the rise of social media and the accessibility to watching uncensored and instant videos, anyone is at risk of vicarious trauma.

It is like a vicious cycle, suggests experts. A person may scroll through negative news because they are stressed and at the same time, they may get stressed because of doomscrolling. This can lead to insomnia, along with anxiety, despair, as well as suspicion of others.

How can one protect themselves?

The first step in protecting yourself is to ensure that you do not look at your phone for at least an hour before you go to sleep. Indulge in other activities, including meditation or reading a book. You can also set screen timers. Some apps set screen timers for your apps and bar you from using certain apps once the timer is on.

You can also try and deliberately curate your content in a way that your algorithm only allows positive content.

In case you are already into doomscrolling and cannot seem to stop it. Look for these symptoms.

Are you thinking about the information you consume, constantly? Are you feeling sad throughout your day? Are you having nightmares based on the content you consume? Then you must reach out for professional help.