All articles tagged with #doomscrolling
Tom Cruise has gone viral after a TikTok clip showed him approaching a woman crouched on the ground, mistaking her posture for distress. The woman, who was actually doomscrolling during a work break, shared security camera footage of the interaction. While some praise the gesture as genuine kindness, others suspect it was staged to promote his upcoming film, Digger.
Tom Cruise has gone viral after a TikTok clip showed him approaching a woman crouched on the ground, mistaking her posture for distress. The woman was actually doomscrolling on her phone during a work break. The interaction, captured on security footage, ended with the two waving and posing for a photo. While some view the moment as genuine kindness, others suspect it was staged for promotion of his upcoming film, Digger.
A recent wave of so-called dopamine sites mimics shopping and delivery to trigger anticipatory pleasure without real purchases, a concept that began in South Korea with Food Never Arrives and has spawned imitators like FakeHaul and Food Never Comes (which even offers recipes). Other variants include Damta World, a virtual smoking site. Proponents say these sites can make people more aware of spending, but experts worry the pleasure is short-lived and may intensify cravings, raising questions about their true impact on behavior.
Amid the Trump 2.0 era, many formerly engaged people feel overwhelmed and numb to the news as fear and chaos mount; psychiatrists describe a survival-mode brain and learned helplessness, while protests still occur. The piece suggests coping steps: name your feelings, schedule focused news breaks, curate sources, and lean on community, journaling, or meditation to break the cycle.
A Washington Post feature examines how many baby boomers are glued to smartphones and tablets, doomscrolling for hours and shaping family life, dinners, and social outings, while exploring why older adults cling to devices and the broader implications for intergenerational dynamics.
Tech management professor Paul Leonardi outlines three tips to curb smartphone use: set a quick intention before picking up your phone to create a stopping point; create a barrier by distancing your device (e.g., check email in the kitchen or leave the phone in another room); and replace screen time with engaging hobbies or activities that induce flow, reducing the urge to scroll.
CNN reports a rising ‘analog lifestyle’ trend in 2026 as people push back against pervasive AI and doomscrolling. Offline hobbies—driven by big retailers like Michaels reporting a 136% surge in searches for analog hobbies and an 86% rise in guided craft kit sales—are expanding, with examples like landline use and screen-free social events illustrating a broader move to tangible, hands-on activities and mental‑health breaks from a primarily digital world.
A decade after 2016, celebrities and everyday fans reminisce about that year’s big moments in pop culture—Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Pokémon Go—while analysts argue nostalgia glosses over deep political divides (Brexit, Trump) and online hostility, suggesting the 2026 internet and political climate feel far more fractured than the monocultural vibe many miss.
A social media manager shares how a device called 'Brick' helped her break free from doomscrolling, despite her understanding of social media's addictive nature and believing she had control over her screen time.
A neuroscientist developed a 6-pound phone case to physically discourage excessive phone use and doomscrolling, successfully reducing his screen time from over four hours to two hours per week by making the phone uncomfortable to hold, thereby rewiring his habits and turning the device into a tool rather than a trap.
Focus Friend, an app designed to help reduce screen time, is gaining popularity, but its effectiveness in actually preventing users from excessive phone use remains uncertain, amidst broader discussions on technology's impact on culture and behavior.
Doomscrolling, the habit of continuously consuming negative online content, is linked to worsening mental health, according to a study by University College London. The research found that individuals with poorer mental health are more likely to seek out distressing content, which in turn exacerbates their symptoms. Experts suggest that mindful digital consumption, including moderating screen time and adopting a balanced media diet, can help mitigate these effects. The study highlights the need for digital literacy to improve public mental health.
A study by University College London reveals that doomscrolling, the habit of seeking negative information online, exacerbates poor mental health by trapping individuals in a cycle of negativity. The research involved over 1,000 participants and found that those with poorer mental health scores were more likely to seek out negative content, which in turn worsened their mental state. The study highlights the correlation between internet use and mental health issues, contributing to ongoing debates about the impact of digital habits on well-being.
The Guardian has launched a new newsletter, Reclaim your brain, to help people spend less time on their phones, with expert coach Catherine Price discussing the science behind our relationships with our devices and how to break the cycle, and Prof Barbara Sahakian of Cambridge University explaining the draw to bad news on phones and its impact on us.
Doomscrolling, the tendency to compulsively scroll through social media feeds or newsfeeds that focus on negative or distressing information, can have toxic effects on mental and physical health. It can lead to increased anxiety, stress, and pessimism, and can negatively impact physical health by interfering with sleep and creating a craving for comfort food and overeating. To stop doomscrolling, experts suggest bringing awareness to the behavior, setting boundaries, listening to your body and emotions, physically separating yourself from your phone, setting specific times each day to log off, asking serendipitous questions, avoiding social media and news outlets, practicing gratitude, and powering down early.