Is doomscrolling bad for kids?
Short answer
Yes, doomscrolling can be bad for kids because it often causes anxiety, stress, and negative emotions that affect their mental health and wellbeing. When children repeatedly scroll through bad news or upsetting content, it can lead to feeling overwhelmed, scared, and helpless. Parents and guardians can help children by setting boundaries, encouraging balanced media use, and providing emotional support.
What is doomscrolling in simple terms?
Doomscrolling is the habit of continuously scrolling through negative or upsetting news and social media posts online. For kids, this might look like spending a long time reading about scary events like natural disasters, accidents, or conflicts on their phones or tablets. Unlike casually checking the news once or twice, doomscrolling means staying stuck on bad news feeds, often without realizing how much time is passing. This can cause feelings of sadness, fear, or stress.
To explain to children, you might say: “Doomscrolling is when you keep looking at news that makes you feel worried or sad, even when it’s better to take a break.” This helps them understand it’s not just about news but the way they keep focusing on the negative. Doomscrolling isn’t limited to adults; kids who use social media or news apps can get caught in this cycle too, especially when they don’t know how to stop.
How does doomscrolling work? A clear, hypothetical example
Imagine a 12-year-old who logs into their favorite social media app after school. They see a post about a recent storm damaging homes in a faraway town. Instead of stopping there, they scroll for 20 minutes, reading more stories about storms, accidents, and other bad news around the world. Each story makes them feel more anxious or upset, and soon they believe the world is a dangerous place.
For example, if the child spends 30 minutes on social media and 25 of those minutes are spent reading only sad or frightening news, this is doomscrolling. It can become a pattern where the child feels a need to keep checking for more updates, even though it worsens their mood. This cycle happens because bad news often grabs attention and triggers worry, making it hard to stop scrolling.
Parents can watch for signs like a child looking worried after screen time or talking about scary news a lot. This example shows how doomscrolling is more than just reading—it’s a repeated focus on negative content that affects feelings.
Why does doomscrolling especially matter for parents and guardians?
Kids’ brains and emotions are still developing, so repeated exposure to negative news can impact their mental health in ways adults might not expect. Doomscrolling can increase feelings of anxiety, sadness, and helplessness, making it harder for kids to concentrate or sleep well. For example, a child who sees many stories about violence or illness might start to worry that bad things will happen to them or their family.
Parents and guardians are in a key position to notice when doomscrolling starts to affect their child’s mood or behavior. It’s important to recognize that kids may not always talk about their worries directly, so changes like irritability or withdrawal could be signs. Supporting children by helping them understand their feelings and guiding their media habits can prevent long-term emotional harm.
Additionally, kids might confuse doomscrolling with staying informed, so parents can teach them how to get news in a healthy way. This includes explaining why it’s okay not to know every detail about every bad event and focusing on things they can control.
What terms are related to doomscrolling and how do they differ?
Parents might hear other terms linked to doomscrolling that can be confusing. Here are some related concepts:
- Catastrophizing: This is when someone imagines the worst possible outcome in a situation, like assuming a minor problem will become a disaster. For example, a child worrying that a small test mistake means they will fail the whole year.
- Information overload: This happens when a person receives too much information at once, making it hard to process or decide what to do. Doomscrolling often leads to information overload because kids consume too much bad news without breaks.
- News fatigue: Feeling tired or numb after seeing a lot of negative news repeatedly. Kids might stop caring or feel hopeless after nonstop bad stories.
- Cyberchondria: When someone obsessively searches online about health symptoms and becomes overly worried. This can overlap with doomscrolling if a child keeps reading about illnesses and health scares.
Understanding these differences helps parents identify what their child is experiencing. For example, a child might be doomscrolling and also catastrophizing about what they read, which can increase anxiety. Knowing the terms can improve conversations and support.
How can parents help kids avoid or reduce doomscrolling?
Parents can take several practical steps to help children avoid doomscrolling or lessen its effects:
- Set clear screen time limits. For instance, limit social media or news app use to 30 minutes daily and use built-in parental controls or timers.
- Encourage regular breaks. Suggest children pause every 10-15 minutes to stretch, play, or do a calming activity.
- Talk openly about feelings. Use phrases like, “How does reading that story make you feel?” or “It’s okay to feel worried, but we can talk about it.”
- Model healthy media habits. Parents should show children how to balance news reading with positive activities and avoid overconsumption.
- Curate content together. Help kids follow age-appropriate and reliable sources, and unfollow accounts that post upsetting or sensational content.
- Promote offline interests. Encourage hobbies, sports, or arts to help children focus on enjoyable activities beyond screens.
- Teach mindfulness or relaxation techniques. Simple breathing exercises or guided imagery can help kids manage stress triggered by bad news.
For example, a parent might say: “Let’s take a break from the phone and play a game or read a fun book. Your feelings are important, and it’s okay to step away from upsetting news.” This approach supports emotional regulation and balance.
What should parents do if doomscrolling is harming their child?
If parents notice their child showing signs of distress related to doomscrolling—such as increased anxiety, trouble sleeping, withdrawing from family or friends, or declining school performance—they should take action:
- Start conversations gently. Ask open-ended questions like, “What worries you most about what you see online?” or “Would you like help figuring out when to take breaks?”
- Create screen-free times and zones. For example, no phones at the dinner table or one hour before bedtime to promote better sleep.
- Teach coping skills. Show children how to recognize when they feel overwhelmed and use calming techniques, like deep breathing or journaling.
- Seek professional support if needed. If anxiety or distress persist, talk to school counselors, pediatricians, or a mental health professional. For immediate crisis support, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
- Keep communication ongoing. Check in regularly about their media use and feelings rather than a one-time talk.
For example, a parent might say: “I’ve noticed you seem worried after using your phone a lot. Let’s work together on some ways to make that better.” This shows support and helps the child feel understood.
Can doomscrolling cause long-term effects on kids’ mental health?
Repeated exposure to negative news through doomscrolling can contribute to chronic stress or anxiety if not addressed early. Over time, this might lower a child’s confidence, cause mood swings, or disrupt their daily activities like schoolwork and friendships. For example, a child who constantly reads about violence might start to feel unsafe even in normal environments.
Teaching children to manage their media use and emotional responses builds resilience. This includes helping them understand the difference between real risks they can manage and things beyond their control. Early guidance can prevent doomscrolling from becoming a habit that harms mental health in adolescence or adulthood.
Parents who foster open dialogue and healthy media habits give children tools to protect their wellbeing. Remember, children learn by example, so parents managing their own news consumption positively can set the tone.
Frequently asked questions
How can I explain doomscrolling to my child in a way they understand?
Say something like, “Doomscrolling is when you keep looking at sad or scary news online without stopping, and it makes you feel worried or upset. It’s okay to take breaks and tell someone if you feel bad about what you see.”
Is it okay for kids to watch or read the news?
Yes, but it’s best when kids get news in small amounts and from trustworthy sources. Encourage them to ask questions and talk about anything that confuses or worries them.
What signs show my child might be doomscrolling too much?
Look for increased anxiety, trouble sleeping, mood changes, withdrawal, or constant talking about negative news. These could be signs to help your child take breaks or talk about their feelings.
Can limiting screen time really help with doomscrolling?
Yes, setting limits helps kids use screens more mindfully and prevents spending too much time on upsetting content. It also encourages them to try other activities that improve mood.
Should I check my child’s social media to stop doomscrolling?
Monitoring can help younger kids, but it’s best paired with open conversations about why some content is upsetting. Trust and communication help kids learn safe online habits.