What HCM professionals can do about the impact of ‘doomscrolling’

May 20, 2025

Sara Maginn Pacella

We face a constant news cycle. Our everyday connection to our phones and electronic devices can make us feel simultaneously overwhelmed and compelled to remain informed. Enter doomscrolling, a growing trend that is impacting people personally and professionally.
When it comes to Canada’s mental health crisis, doomscrolling is just the tip of the iceberg, and it impacts us all. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reports that “one in two Canadians have – or have had – a mental illness by the time they reach 40.” The economic toll of mental illness in Canada is said to be roughly 51 billion dollars each year. “Mental illness is a leading cause of disability in this country, preventing nearly 500,000 employed Canadians from attending work each week.”
Doomscrolling is both a symptom of our mental health crisis and a cause, but the good news is that there are actions you can take to help stop doomscrolling.

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What is doomscrolling?

Doomscrolling is the habit of seeing bad news on social media and news sites and excessively seeking out more. Unfortunately, the way that social media algorithms are designed, the more negative content we watch and read, the more we are fed, creating a vicious cycle that is bad for our health.

Why do people doomscroll?

An individual might be prone to doomscrolling for many reasons, and those who experience social media addiction may be particularly susceptible. Some leading theories as to why people doomscroll include:

As a coping mechanism for uncertainty and anxiety

A person may believe being well-informed will reduce their worries and give them a sense of control. Unfortunately, doomscrolling tends to make anxiety worse.

FOMO (fear of missing out)

Many people pride themselves on being well-educated on current events, but with a constant news cycle, there is always more content to explore, which can be overwhelming.

Negativity bias

Our brains have evolved to see bad news as more important than good news to help keep us safe; unfortunately, with doomscrolling, this has the opposite effect.

Confirmation bias

We may scroll to confirm our pre-existing beliefs and viewpoints or to prove that our hunch about something is correct.

Avoidance

Doomscrolling can be a way to procrastinate at work and in our personal lives.

” Doomscrolling is the habit of seeing bad news on social media and news sites and excessively seeking out more ”

Why is doomscrolling so bad for us?

Doomscrolling can be both a symptom of, and exacerbate, an underlying mental health problem. Doomscrolling has been linked to anxiety, depression, and obsessive and addictive personality traits. A recent study showcased how doomscrolling can have a negative impact on physical health, with 61 percent of people who fall into the category of “habitual doomscrollers” reporting physical health problems, compared to only 6.1 percent of people who are not habitual doomscrollers.

Doomscrolling can impact our sleep and appetite and make us withdraw from our usual activities. Excessive scrolling is also linked to headaches, stomach pain, eye strain and mood swings, and can also lead to a reliance on drugs and alcohol to manage these symptoms.

Why is doomscrolling so addictive?

Doomscrolling is like gambling behaviours, which are also incredibly addicting, in that we don’t always receive bad news in our doomscrolling – sometimes we see good news or something that provides a sense of relief, like videos of cute animals, and our body continues to chase the high of our reaction to scrolling. People who closely follow politics are more likely to doomscroll. When we are rewarded by good news or happy content, it encourages us to engage in this behaviour as an easy way unwind, even though it often has the opposite impact. Sandra McElliott, MA, MHP, clinical manager of adult outpatient services at Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, a branch of MultiCare Behavioral Health, says, “Addiction starts as something positive that activates the dopamine receptors, but then you’re constantly chasing that high, which doesn’t return.”

What can we do instead of doomscrolling?

HCM Dialogue spoke to a human capital management professional who saw a peak in his anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was turning to news cycles to stay informed. He has found several strategies to help manage his anxiety, including speaking to a therapist, anti-anxiety medication and mindful practices to avoid doomscrolling. He has found it helpful to remove newsfeeds from all device home screens, not place his phone beside him when he is working, exercise regularly and avoid multi-tasking activities that increase stress levels. He also recommends that people struggling read Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life, a book he rereads annually to provide perspective and reinforce the habits he has built.

He and other HCM professionals encourage strategies in the workplace and at home to reduce the bombardment of news, including:

Using time-limiting apps to shut down perpetual scrolling
Removing stressful news and triggering content on home screens and in the lobbies and breakrooms of their workplaces
Following content providers who solely post good news stories
Focusing on what you can change by bringing your passion to the real world through volunteering for causes you care about, both personally and in the workplace
Educating staff on available Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), which offer support and professional development on mental health

Conclusion

Whether you are looking for small tweaks to improve your day-to-day life, awareness about the impacts of doomscrolling, strategies to curb bad habits or help with a larger issue, you are not alone. If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a health-care practitioner today.

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