DOOMSDAY SCROLLING

DOOMSDAY SCROLLING
affecting Mental Health:

What is it?

Continuously scrolling through pandemic-related news & social media feed - almost compulsively.

It is the tendency to surf/scroll through bad news, even though the news is saddening/depressing. It makes us believe that we have approached doomsday, even if we haven’t.

Experts’ warning:

According to behavioural experts, it is a double - edged sword. It keeps us updated plus help us mobilise resources BUT also nudges us towards an exaggerated sense of gloom & doom.

Problem:

People find themselves, continuously reading bad news about CoVID-19 without being able to stop, even sacrificing their crucial sleep time / working hours in the process.

Effect:

1) Long-term effects on mental health.

2) Mental heath is connected to physical health. So, interference with sleep and thus, craving for comfort food, Bulimia.

3) In long term, can increase levels of cortisol & adrenaline ( BOTH are stress hormones which have serious repercussions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity ).

4) Reinforces negative thoughts & negative mindset.

Reason:

It differs with age-group.

15-30: To seek help, mobilise action, share resources.

30-45: Mostly blaming everyone on social media.

>45: Trying to spread positivity and spirituality.

Why it happens?

1) Natural tendency of humans is to pay more attention to negative news.

2) Social media algorithms, A.I. create this vicious circle.

3) ‘Mean world syndrome’ since 1970s - belief that world is a more dangerous place to live in than it actually is - due to long-term exposure to violence related content on TV.

4) Psycho-biologically, it becomes a behavioural addiction as it gives dopamine high (like positive news). So it becomes a self-sustaining activity.

5) Humans have a tendency to catastrophize.

6) Excessive social media exposure (especially during lockdown).