Doomscrolling Addiction: Psychological Consequences and Strategies to Overcome Negative News Consumption on Social Media

Author(s)	Prof. Arul vendhan Samuel, Ms. Mythili Panneer Selvam
Country	India
Abstract	Doomscrolling, a term coined to describe the compulsive behavior of endlessly scrolling through negative news on social media platforms, has emerged as a pervasive digital mental health concern, particularly in the post-pandemic era. The constant exposure to alarming and distressing news has been found to exacerbate psychological distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. This paper explores the mechanisms of doomscrolling addiction, its association with social media design algorithms, and its psychological impact. A literature review and analysis of recent empirical studies (2019–2024) support the identification of doomscrolling as a behavioral addiction. The paper further presents evidence-based strategies and interventions to mitigate doomscrolling, including digital hygiene practices, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and platform-based tools. The findings underscore the urgent need for public health awareness and media literacy to address the growing burden of social media-induced psychological harm.
Keywords	Doomscrolling, social media addiction, digital mental health, anxiety, depression, negative news, algorithmic exposure
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-05
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.50152
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9s9d3

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International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research