Internet use can be addictive, and ‘doomsday scrolling’ can detrimentally affect our mental health. Doomsday scrolling is something many of us do, but we may not have given it a name until now. Drawn towards the news, we tend to hit on the worst of international and national goings-on. We may, for instance, compulsively search out updates on the Ukraine-Russian war, or obsessively follow deteriorating aspects of the political situation in various countries. We may scroll through numerous sites dedicated to the potential consequences of climate change, or simply follow celebrity court cases. However we do it, it leaves little space for the many positive aspects of life, right in front of our eyes.
The media is driven to publish mostly bad news because it’s sensational, and as we scroll through its many offerings, our stress levels rise. The more stress we experience, the more hypervigilant we become, and the more we scroll in an effort to be informed about potential dangers. As we absorb doom and gloom, we may find ourselves experiencing the physical sensations of anxiety – head aches, muscle tension, and difficulty sleeping. More importantly, the more we doom-scroll, the more we withdraw from others.
When doomsday scrolling is such a negative activity, how can we seek to cut back on it, or oust it altogether? There are numerous ways to do so, from keeping your phone out of your bedroom at night, to using an app to monitor your screen time. For those who are addicted to doomsday scrolling, another option can be to switch (or at least incorporate) ‘good news’ sites into your daily searches. Good news sites are an antidote to real world drama, and they can help reduce stress and encourage us to enjoy the more positive aspects of the world. The following good news sites are worth incorporating into your day:
The Daily Encourger is an uplifting home-grown site focusing on everything from health and education to science, technology and business innovation. Some of the stories are especially encouraging as they focus on small endeavours with a big community impact.
Radio New Zealand’s ‘Good News’ page is a respite from the doom and gloom which mainstream media usually serves up. With a national and Pacific good-news round-up on a weekly basis, it will put you in touch with stories of activism, achievement, sports, and sustainability.
For an international take on what’s going right with the world, look no further than Positive News – Good Journalism about good things. It covers some of the worlds uplifting news including a section delightfully titled ‘What Went Right This Week’ (who can resist a heading like that!).
If following the doom and gloom of war journalism is your thing, it may be time for a switch to Good, Good, Good News ‘War & Conflict Good News section’. Because, even in the midst of injustice and conflict, there are stories of resilience and hope – the sort of news that permeates into your everyday life.
The Happy Broadcast delivers up serious journalism on serious subjects, especially as they relate to environmental and technological issues. However, there’s also a decent smattering on animals, human interest stories, and a good dose of mental health tips.
While you may usually head to the BBC for your world doom and gloom news, you can tap into its ‘Uplifting Stories’ section which brings a bevy of UK news that ticks all the happiness boxes.
For the sake of our mental health, and in support of those in our own country and around the world, isn’t it time we loosened our grip on doomsday scrolling and tempered it with more positive and uplifting stories? It’s not that we want to forget the trials and tribulations all around us, but more to seek a balanced view of the news. Happy reading!
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