Why Do We Doomscroll The Psychology Behind Infinite Feeds

In the quiet hours of the night, many of us find ourselves lying in bed, phone in hand, endlessly swiping through a stream of news, social media updates, or viral videos—often with no clear purpose or satisfaction. This behavior, commonly known as \"doomscrolling,\" involves compulsively consuming large volumes of negative or anxiety-inducing content online, typically on platforms designed with infinite scrolling features. While it may start as a way to stay informed or pass the time, it often leads to increased stress, sleep disruption, and emotional fatigue. But why do we do it? What psychological forces pull us into these digital loops, even when we know they’re harmful?

The answer lies at the intersection of behavioral psychology, neuroscience, and design engineering. Social media platforms and news websites are not passive tools; they are meticulously engineered to capture and retain attention. Infinite feeds—those that load new content endlessly without a natural stopping point—are central to this strategy. By understanding the cognitive and emotional mechanisms behind doomscrolling, we can begin to reclaim control over our digital habits.

The Allure of the Infinite Feed

Infinite scrolling is a design feature first popularized by platforms like Facebook and Twitter (now X), where users continuously swipe upward to reveal new content without ever reaching a final page. Unlike traditional websites with clear endpoints—such as “Page 5 of 10”—infinite feeds eliminate closure. There’s no natural pause, no signal that it’s time to stop. This absence of completion plays directly into human psychology.

Our brains are wired to seek patterns and resolutions. When a task remains unfinished, we experience what psychologists call the Zeigarnik effect—the tendency to remember uncompleted tasks better than completed ones. Infinite feeds exploit this by creating a perpetual sense of incompleteness. Every post you read opens the door to another, and the next piece of information always feels just out of reach. You keep scrolling, chasing a resolution that never comes.

Moreover, the unpredictability of content enhances engagement. One moment you’re watching a cat video, the next you’re reading about geopolitical unrest. This variability mimics a slot machine: you don’t know what you’ll get next, but the possibility of a rewarding—or shocking—stimulus keeps you pulling the lever.

Tip: Set a timer before opening any app with an infinite feed. When it goes off, close the app—regardless of where you are.

The Role of Dopamine and Variable Rewards

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with motivation and pleasure, plays a critical role in doomscrolling. Contrary to popular belief, dopamine isn’t just released when we feel pleasure—it spikes in anticipation of a reward. This anticipatory release is what fuels addictive behaviors, from gambling to compulsive smartphone use.

Infinite feeds operate on a variable reward schedule, a concept pioneered by psychologist B.F. Skinner. In his experiments, animals pressed levers more frequently when rewards were given unpredictably rather than consistently. The same principle applies to social media: you don’t know if the next scroll will bring a funny meme, a heartfelt message from a friend, or breaking news. That uncertainty keeps dopamine levels elevated, making it harder to disengage.

Over time, the brain begins to associate scrolling with potential reward, reinforcing the habit loop: cue (boredom, stress, notification), routine (opening the app), and reward (new information or emotional stimulation). Even when the content is distressing, the brain still registers a form of engagement, which can be misinterpreted as fulfillment.

“We’ve created a world where everyone carries a slot machine in their pocket. The difference is, the house always wins.” — Dr. Anna Lembke, Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University

Emotional Triggers and Cognitive Biases

Doomscrolling isn’t just driven by novelty—it’s deeply tied to emotion. Negative content, especially around crises, conflict, or disaster, tends to spread faster and hold attention longer than neutral or positive information. This phenomenon, known as negativity bias, reflects our evolutionary tendency to prioritize threats over opportunities. In prehistoric times, noticing danger meant survival; today, that same instinct pulls us toward alarming headlines and worst-case scenarios.

Platforms amplify this bias by using algorithms that prioritize engagement. Since angry, fearful, or outraged reactions generate more clicks and shares, the algorithm learns to serve more emotionally charged content. Users then perceive the world as more dangerous or chaotic than it statistically is—a distortion known as the availability heuristic. The more you see stories about crime, political turmoil, or health scares, the more likely you are to believe they are common or imminent.

This creates a feedback loop: anxiety drives more scrolling, which exposes you to more anxiety-inducing content, further increasing your stress levels. It becomes a self-reinforcing cycle that feels impossible to escape—even when you're aware of its effects.

Common Cognitive Biases Fueling Doomscrolling

Cognitive Bias	Description	Impact on Scrolling Behavior
Negativity Bias	Paying more attention to negative information than positive	Draws users toward distressing news and fear-based content
Availability Heuristic	Estimating likelihood based on how easily examples come to mind	Makes rare events seem common due to repeated exposure
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)	Anxiety that others are having rewarding experiences without you	Encourages constant checking for updates and trends
Confirmation Bias	Seeking information that confirms existing beliefs	Leads to echo chambers and reinforcement of extreme views

A Real-Life Scenario: The Election Night Spiral

Consider Sarah, a 34-year-old marketing professional who logs onto Twitter at 8 PM to check election results. She sees a trending post predicting a contested outcome. Curious, she clicks through to a thread filled with speculation and heated debate. One link leads to another—an op-ed, a poll analysis, a live update. Each refresh brings a new wave of tension.

By 11 PM, she’s still scrolling, now deep in threads about voter fraud allegations and protest warnings. Her heart rate has increased. She feels anxious but can’t look away. She tells herself she’s staying informed, but in reality, she’s absorbing unverified claims and emotionally charged rhetoric. Sleep suffers. The next morning, she feels mentally drained and less capable of focusing at work.

Sarah’s experience is not unique. During high-stakes events—elections, pandemics, natural disasters—doomscrolling intensifies. The desire to stay updated collides with the brain’s vulnerability to emotional overload. What starts as responsible awareness quickly devolves into compulsive consumption.

Breaking the Cycle: A Step-by-Step Guide

Escaping the grip of doomscrolling requires intentional effort and structural changes. Awareness alone is rarely enough. Below is a practical, step-by-step approach to regaining control:

1. Identify Your Triggers: Track when and why you reach for your phone. Is it boredom? Stress? Habitual checking after meals or before bed? Keep a log for three days to spot patterns.
2. Set Environmental Boundaries: Remove infinite-feed apps from your home screen. Move them into a folder labeled “Time Sinks” or place them on a secondary device screen to reduce accessibility.
3. Use App Limits: Enable screen time controls on your phone to set daily limits for social media and news apps. When the limit is reached, the app locks until the next day.
4. Create Rituals Around Use: Designate specific times for checking news—e.g., 15 minutes at lunch—and stick to it. Avoid screens during meals and one hour before bedtime.
5. Curate Your Feed: Unfollow accounts that consistently trigger anxiety. Mute keywords like “crisis,” “outbreak,” or “scandal.” Follow creators who share solutions, humor, or uplifting stories.
6. Replace the Habit: When the urge to scroll arises, engage in a substitute activity: stretch, journal, read a physical book, or brew tea. Over time, this rewires the brain’s response to triggers.
7. Practice Digital Detox Periods: Start with one hour per day without any infinite-feed platforms. Gradually extend to full evenings or weekends.

Tip: Turn off all non-essential notifications. If you need updates, go to the app intentionally—don’t let it come to you.

Checklist: How to Reduce Doomscrolling Today

• ✅ Audit your most-used apps and identify which have infinite feeds
• ✅ Set screen time limits for each app (e.g., 30 minutes/day)
• ✅ Delete or disable push notifications for social media and news
• ✅ Schedule two fixed times per day to check updates (e.g., 12 PM and 5 PM)
• ✅ Replace bedtime scrolling with a non-digital wind-down routine (reading, meditation, etc.)
• ✅ Follow five new accounts that inspire or educate without causing stress
• ✅ Share your goals with a friend to increase accountability

Frequently Asked Questions

Is doomscrolling officially recognized as a mental health disorder?

No, doomscrolling is not classified as a clinical disorder in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5. However, it is increasingly studied as a symptom of broader issues such as anxiety, depression, or problematic internet use. While not a diagnosis itself, chronic doomscrolling can exacerbate mental health conditions and disrupt daily functioning.

Why can’t I stop even when I feel bad after scrolling?

This disconnect between intention and behavior is common in habitual actions reinforced by intermittent rewards. Your brain has learned to associate scrolling with temporary relief from boredom or uncertainty, even if the long-term effect is negative. Breaking the habit requires replacing the routine with healthier alternatives and weakening the automatic trigger-response cycle.

Are some people more prone to doomscrolling than others?

Yes. Individuals with higher levels of neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity, or low tolerance for uncertainty are more vulnerable. People in high-stress professions, caregivers, and those with limited control over major life events may also turn to doomscrolling as a maladaptive coping mechanism. Personality and life context significantly influence susceptibility.

Reclaiming Your Attention

The infinite feed is not neutral. It is a product of deliberate design choices aimed at maximizing user engagement, often at the expense of well-being. Recognizing this doesn’t make you weak—it makes you informed. The ability to step back, question your impulses, and set boundaries is a form of digital resilience.

Every time you choose to close an app, read a book instead of scrolling, or spend time offline, you’re reasserting control over your attention—the most valuable resource you possess. Small changes compound. One mindful decision leads to another. Over time, you can transform your relationship with technology from one of compulsion to conscious choice.

💬 Ready to take back your time? Start tonight: charge your phone outside the bedroom, pick up a novel, and let silence replace the scroll. Your mind will thank you.