Doomscrolling, also called doomsurfing, was placed on Merriam-Webster dictionary’s “Words We’re Watching” list, since gaining popularity amid the pandemic. They define doomscrolling as “the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news, even though that news is saddening, disheartening, or depressing.” Staying up to date with the latest COVID-19 news is important, and so is staying connected with friends and family during quarantine. For both reasons, the pandemic seemed to heighten doomscrolling, Spinelli explains. “The uncertainty in the world and minute-by-minute news breaks has created a fear of missing out,” she says. People are afraid to “let go,” in case they miss something. Following the killing of George Floyd, news about police brutality, oppression, and racial injustice is also finally circulating in mainstream media. With so much information about anti-racism resources out there, some people now feel guilty for not doomscrolling. They worry if they aren’t constantly in the news, they’re turning the other cheek, Spinelli explains. But spending too much time in the news and not maintaining self-care can prevent people from taking real action, which is vital. In extreme cases, doomscrolling can create symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she says. “The kind of graphic violence shown on social media can elicit trauma,” Spinelli says, “and from my view, this can be detrimental to mental health if it continues to be the fabric of one’s day.” Right now, with two public health emergencies—COVID-19 and racism—impacting communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, it can be difficult to draw the line between staying informed and doomscrolling.
