Definition
The compulsive behavior of continuously scrolling through social media feeds, news aggregators, or content platforms — particularly consuming negative, distressing, or anxiety-inducing content — even when doing so produces negative emotional effects. Doom scrolling is driven by the same algorithmic optimization for engagement that powers creator platforms, as negative and emotionally charged content tends to generate higher engagement signals than neutral or positive content. For creators, doom scrolling represents both a risk to their own mental health and a behavioral pattern in their audience that shapes content consumption habits.