I like words, the more precise, the better. And lately I have been coming across “doomscrolling” and thought it was pertinent to how the world is watching itself implode. So, I looked it up. My usual and helpful place to look is Wikipedia, and here is what I found, edited.
Doomscrolling or doomsurfing is the act of spending an excessive amount of time watching short-form content or watching large quantities of user-generated content or news, particularly negative news, on the web and social media. The concept was coined around 2020, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) observed that the pandemic was accompanied by widespread misleading information, conspiracy theories, and false reports, which it referred to as an "infodemic".
Origins: The practice of doomscrolling can be compared to an older phenomenon from the 1970s called the mean world syndrome, described as "the belief that the world is a more dangerous place to live in than it actually is as a result of long-term exposure to violence-related content on television". Studies show that seeing upsetting news leads people to seek out more information on the topic, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
In common parlance, the word "doom" connotes darkness and evil. In the World Wide Web's infancy, "surfing" was a common verb used in reference to browsing the web; similarly, the word "scrolling" refers to sliding through online content. After three years of being on the Merriam-Webster "watching" list, "doomscrolling" was recognized as an official word in September 2023.
I don’t think I am doing this myself, since I use a small number of what I hope are reliable sources and don’t spend a lot of time on them. But the odd time I wander through links, and find both interesting and devastating content.
Interesting? Maybe only to me. I just ran across an interview with the Princess Royal done by CBC at around the time of Charles III’s coronation, and found it to be a fascinating look at a person we usually only see in photos. I found her answers to be intelligent and very, very careful. I ended up wondering if she had managed the interview to the extent of vetting the questions ahead of time. Obviously, very much attached and a support to her mother. Maybe less so to her brother.
The other thing I found was a post about Christia Freeland on Facebook. I looked at the comments, thinking I might add one and, to my dismay, found over half of them to be from ‘trolls’ (or worse, but the name is useful) dumping on her for giving money to Ukraine or wrecking the Canadian economy. (And those were the better spelled and worded; many were illiterate.) I was quite surprised at the extent of the vitriol. It was a good example of what I have also seen discussed, the vulnerability of women in the public eye to the worst sorts of misogyny.
I do not think I will become a doomscroller, other than taking in what the daily dose of American misbehaviour is reported to be, but I found this exercise to be a good reminder of what I don’t know and an exercise I should do more often.
(If they only spelled it correctly!!!)
It's hard to not see much in passing as I scroll Bluesky, which is really much better than X which can take one into the dregs. I am willing to scroll by quickly, particularly when the Red Boor shows up repetitively.
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for Gander to launch. Facebook is no longer much use. I did apply for Bluesky, but have not used it and cannot remember the password which, of course, I did not write down.
ReplyDeleteThe American news is, um, depressing.
News is best taken in small doses and much to be disbelieved.
ReplyDeleteSome of what I would like to disbelieve is real. Scary. Sad and very scary.
DeleteOne of my staff members was the first person I knew to do this. It was after the 8-11attack. She just kept watching TV reports about it over and over, staying up all night. I was so relieved when she finally broke out of it!
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting thing to read about. The handheld phones are just so easy to hold and stare into. I lifted my head from my book in the living room the other day and there were two daughters and one husband, all staring at their hands. It would be funny, I guess, if it did not worry me.
DeleteBefore Musk got his hands on it, I used to scroll through Twitter. I realized I was lost there and cut it out. That was doomscrolling for sure. I follow some Canadian podcasters these days and find them informative. That and blogging keep me busy.
ReplyDeleteI have subscriptions to two or three fairly reputable (Trump hates them) papers on line and we get two in the house every day plus the Economist, plus Time. I never get all of it read.
DeleteI like to look for news items, and then read the course, or verify it. So much stuff on there.
ReplyDeleteA lot of repetition, though.
DeleteI'm getting to dislike all terms related to social media, including the term social media itself. I feel as if its purpose is no longer Social overall. I am daily thankful that I'm not on things like Xtwitter, facebook, and the like even though I'm discerning enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. Sadly, so many aren't, and the proof is squatting in the White House.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Agreed. I still use Facebook because there is local stuff on it like bus cancellations and adverts for things I may want to use. I zip past the junk to get to the info I want. X and all that, no. I hope I am discerning (lovely word) but sometimes I wonder.
DeleteI am addicted to doomscrolling. I spend my day cleaning carpet and when I get home, I find myself locked onto youtube videos. I set a goal to stop last month, which has been hard. However, I have deepened my relationships with my friends. Clearly doomscrolling is a habit no one should allow in their life.
ReplyDelete