What is doomscrolling, and why can't I stop?

Doomscrolling is reading bad news on a feed long after it stops being useful, usually late at night. It's hard to stop because anxiety keeps asking "what else?" and the feed always has an answer.

Willpower doesn't hold up well against that, especially at 11 p.m. Change the setup during the day. Move the news apps off your home screen and charge your phone outside the bedroom. I cover the rest in my guide to doomscrolling.

The link with how you feel is consistent. A 2026 review of 44 studies found doomscrolling went hand in hand with anxiety and depression (Li and Yin, 2026). Those studies can't show which comes first, and it likely runs both ways.

To find your first step: Find Your Starting Place.