Doom-Following: The Social Media Habit That’s Wrecking Your Mind

In the digital age, our thumbs have become finely tuned instruments of destruction—scrolling endlessly, consuming a steady stream of fear, outrage, and despair. Welcome to the world of doom-following, a cousin of doom-scrolling, where instead of merely ingesting negative news, we actively seek out and follow accounts that fuel our anxiety and pessimism.

We do it unconsciously at first. A breaking news story shocks us, so we follow a journalist for updates. A crisis unfolds, and we add more experts, commentators, and voices—until one day, our feed is an unrelenting torrent of catastrophe. Politics, war, economic downturns, climate disasters—our curated list ensures that there’s no escape. We aren’t just passively absorbing negativity; we are subscribing to it, engaging with it, and reinforcing it with every like, comment, and share.

The Psychology of Doom-Following

Doom-following is driven by a mix of fear, curiosity, and the illusion of control. Our brains are wired to prioritize threats—a survival mechanism from our evolutionary past. When bad news strikes, we instinctively seek more information, believing that awareness equates to preparedness. But in reality, our consumption often exceeds our ability to act, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and powerless.

Social media algorithms exacerbate the problem. Platforms prioritize engagement, and nothing drives interaction like fear and outrage. If you follow one doom-laden account, the algorithm will ensure you find more. Before you know it, your digital world is curated to keep you in a perpetual state of alarm.

The Consequences: Anxiety, Burnout, and Learned Helplessness

Doom-following isn’t just an emotional burden—it has real mental health consequences. Chronic exposure to distressing content increases anxiety, stress, and even symptoms of depression. It fosters a sense of learned helplessness, where we begin to believe that no action is meaningful because everything is spiraling out of control. This, in turn, can lead to burnout, social withdrawal, and a sense of disconnection from the real world.

How to Break Free

The first step to escaping doom-following is awareness. If you’re constantly feeling anxious after scrolling, take a look at your follow list. Are you surrounding yourself with negativity under the guise of staying informed?

• Audit Your Feed: Unfollow or mute accounts that consistently make you feel stressed or hopeless.

• Diversify Your Content: Follow accounts that inspire, educate, or entertain without causing distress.

• Set Boundaries: Limit your social media use, especially during times of heightened stress.

• Engage in Real-World Action: Channel your concern into constructive efforts—volunteering, advocacy, or community involvement.

The world is not just a series of crises unfolding in real-time. There is joy, resilience, and progress happening too. You don’t have to ignore the world's problems, but you also don’t have to drown in them. Curate your digital life with the same care you curate your real one. Your mind will thank you for it.