The Effects of Doomscrolling
In this day and age, the internet has been dominating over the lives of many people, especially among kids and teenagers. Many of today’s youth have been glued to their phones and on social media such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Many of the content that we watch on social media tends to be humorous and we can even refer to the content as brain rot. The content that today’s youth watches tends to have them on our cellular devices all day and end up doomscrolling on their beds.
What exactly is Brain Rot/Doomscrolling?
The terms brain rot and doomscrolling are ways we describe mental and emotional effects of consuming too much digital content and not not considered real medical terminology.
Brain rot: the decline in cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, and mood. This occurs when we zone out on our screens instead of engaging in more meaningful activities.
Doomscrolling: This word became popular during the pandemic as people endlessly scrolled through the internet learning about bad news to stay informed or to just cope while being in isolation. The behavior gradually increased, however it became threatening to people’s mental health, especially in kids and teens.
The Effects of Doomscrolling
Continuous and mindless consumption of digital content has harmful effects not only on the mind, but also the physical body. Here are some of the effects:
● Shorter attention span: it can be harder to complete complex tasks as a result of consuming smaller content such as TikToks, which only last a few seconds.
● Diminished critical thinking: Doomscrolling can decrease deep thinking and children may get used to just skimming through content
● Emotional fatigue: Exposure to negative news can overwhelm students and create anxiety
● Physical symptoms: Long hours of pure doomscrolling can result in headaches, nausea, and difficulty sleeping
Tips to Prevent Brain Rot and Doomscrolling
● Create specific times throughout the day to turn off cellular devices and engage in other activities
● Avoid screens an hour before time to improve sleep quality
● Create spaces within your home where no technology is permitted as it can encourage more mindful interactions and healthier habits.
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