Is your smartphone making you feel worse? If you’ve ever found yourself endlessly scrolling through negative news or social media posts, you might be trapped in the cycle of doomscrolling. A new study reveals the shocking effects this habit can have on your mental health, showing how excessive use of negative content on smartphones can deepen feelings of anxiety and depression.
A recent study reveals that spending too much time viewing negative content on smartphones, known as “doomscrolling,” can further deteriorate mental health. Scientists at University College London (UCL) have warned that improper smartphone usage can worsen a user’s emotional well-being.
Published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, the study found that individuals with poor mental health were more likely to engage with negative online content.
The research involved experiments with 1,000 participants, who were subjected to psychological assessments before being asked to browse the internet for 30 minutes. Their search history and the language used on the websites were analyzed, revealing that those with compromised mental health primarily consumed negative content.
Further tests involved altering the participants’ web content to determine whether this behavior was causal or a result of their condition. The findings showed that both factors played a role. Additionally, participants exposed to more negative material felt worse before entering a “destructive spiral” of seeking even more harmful content.
Experts have cautioned that doomscrolling not only impacts mental health but also fosters harmful habits, emphasizing the need for immediate corrective measures.