# doomscrolling

/ˈdumˌskɹoʊlɪŋ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doomscrolling
Updated: 2026-09-20

## Definition

the habit of spending a lot of time on your phone or computer reading bad news. Even if the news makes you feel sad or worried, you find it hard to stop looking at it.

For teachers: the practice of obsessively scanning social media or news sites for negative information, despite the resulting feelings of anxiety or dread. A modern blend of 'doom' and 'scrolling'.

## Examples

- I spent an hour doomscrolling before I finally went to sleep.
- During the global health crisis, many people found themselves doomscrolling late into the night, unable to look away from the rising case numbers.
- Psychologists suggest that doomscrolling stems from an evolutionary need to identify threats, yet in the digital age, this constant exposure to tragedy often leads to emotional exhaustion.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a gerund to describe the activity itself.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.