Constant consumption of bad news paints an often exaggerated picture of the current situation and can lead to depression. In combination with so-called fake news, there’s the danger of drifting into a universe of alternative truths and becoming radicalized. As a first step, you should be aware of doomscrolling and critically question your surfing behavior. Are you on the lookout for bad news? Do you click on every new horror story and statistic? Then it’s about time to take countermeasures. Follow these tips:
- Set firm time limits within which you doomscroll and browse social networks. For example, 10 to 20 minutes a day. If you find it difficult to set a limit yourself, use smartphone apps that let you limit your daily screen time and use of certain apps.
- Consider alternative behaviors and rewards, such as exercising, going for a walk, or reading a good book.
- Get friends or family on board to distract you from using your cell phone and with whom you can talk openly in case bad news overwhelms you.
In general, avoiding doomscrolling is about changing your habits. Because habits can become addictive, there is no remedy for doomscrolling. If you can’t find a good solution, a therapist or other expert in this area can help you to address and avoid dangers lurking on social networks.