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    Categories>Psychology>Doomscrolling: The Infinite Scroll of Worry and Digital Anxiety

    Doomscrolling: The Infinite Scroll of Worry and Digital Anxiety

    22 min
    |
    |
    May 24, 2026
    PsychologySelf HelpTechnology

    Explore the impact of doomscrolling and digital anxiety. Learn how excessive social media use and news consumption affect mental health and daily stress levels.

    Doomscrolling: The Infinite Scroll of Worry and Digital Anxiety

    Best quote from Doomscrolling: The Infinite Scroll of Worry and Digital Anxiety

    “

    It’s about finding that balance where you can be an informed human being without feeling like your soul is being slowly drained by an infinite scroll.

    ”

    This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

    Input question

    Doomscrolling

    Host voices
    Lenaplay
    Milesplay
    Learning style
    Fun
    Knowledge sources
    What Exactly Is Doomscrolling and How Does It Affect Us? | Psychology Today
    link
    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/some-assembly-required/202408/what-exactly-is-doomscrolling-and-how-does-it-affect-us
    What Doomscrolling Is and How To Stop
    link
    https://health.clevelandclinic.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-doomscrolling-and-how-to-avoid-it
    What Is Doomscrolling? Why We Do It & How It Affects Us
    link
    https://positivepsychology.com/doomscrolling/
    How to Stay Informed Without Falling Into Doomscrolling | Right as Rain by UW Medicine
    link
    https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/stress/protecting-your-peace-without-doomscrolling-disconnecting
    I’m a Psychotherapist Who Was Stuck Doomscrolling. This Is How I Broke the Cycle | GQ
    link
    https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-stop-doomscrolling

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Doomscrolling is the specific habit of spending excessive time consuming disturbing news through social media platforms. This behavior often leads to feeling stressed, overstimulated, and emotionally riled up before the day even begins. For approximately 1 in 6 people, this infinite scroll of worry reaches levels of consumption that severely impact their physical and mental well-being, turning digital devices into constant sources of anxiety.

    During the early days of the pandemic, there was a significant spike in how people interacted with their devices. Digital news use jumped by 35%, while social media use increased by nearly 47%. These pandemic news trends highlight how many individuals turned their phones into windows of worry, establishing a gravitational pull toward negative information that often results in vanishing time and increased digital anxiety.

    The infinite scroll creates a gravitational pull that makes it difficult to stop consuming content. Many people intend to check a single notification but find that half an hour has vanished as they fall deeper into news threads. This habit is often triggered first thing in the morning, causing users to carry the weight of global crises and disturbing news before they have even started their daily routines.

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    From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

    BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds
    See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
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    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
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    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
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    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
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    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
    platform
    comments
    201
    thumbsUp
    16

    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

    @Moemenn
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

    @Chloe, Solo founder, LA
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    117

    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

    @Matt, YC alum
    platform
    comments
    12
    likes
    108

    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
    platform
    comments
    254
    likes
    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

    @Pitiful
    platform
    comments
    96
    likes
    4.5K

    "BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

    @SofiaP
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

    @Jaded_Falcon
    platform
    comments
    201
    thumbsUp
    16

    "It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

    @OojasSalunke
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star

    "The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

    @Leo, Law Student, UPenn
    platform
    comments
    37
    likes
    483

    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

    @Cashflowbubu
    platform
    star
    star
    star
    star
    star
    1.5K Ratings4.7
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    Learn Anything, Personalized

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    Featured book summaries
    Crucial ConversationsThe Perfect MarriageInto the WildNever Split the DifferenceAttachedGood to GreatSay Nothing
    Trending categories
    Self HelpCommunication SkillRelationshipMindfulnessPhilosophyInspirationProductivity
    Celebrities' reading list
    Elon MuskCharlie KirkBill GatesSteve JobsAndrew HubermanJoe RoganJordan Peterson
    Award winning collection
    Pulitzer PrizeNational Book AwardGoodreads Choice AwardsNobel Prize in LiteratureNew York TimesCaldecott MedalNebula Award
    Featured Topics
    ManagementAmerican HistoryWarTradingStoicismAnxietySex
    Best books by Year
    2025 Best Non Fiction Books2024 Best Non Fiction Books2023 Best Non Fiction Books
    Learning tools
    Knowledge VisualizerAI Podcast Generator
    Featured authors
    Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieGeorge OrwellO. J. SimpsonBarbara O'NeillWinston ChurchillCharlie Kirk
    BeFreed vs other apps
    BeFreed vs. Other Book Summary AppsBeFreed vs. ElevenReaderBeFreed vs. ReadwiseBeFreed vs. Anki
    Information
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    BeFreed
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    © 2026 BeFreed
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    Key Takeaways

    1

    The Gravitational Pull of the Morning Scroll

    0:00
    0:20
    0:40
    1:17
    1:42
    2:04
    2:26
    2:42
    2

    Why Your Brain Craves the Bad News

    3:35
    3:54
    4:10
    4:53
    5:56
    3

    The Physical Toll of the Digital Storm

    6:29
    6:42
    8:41
    9:00
    9:15
    4

    Distorted Realities and the Crazymaking Cycle

    10:13
    10:29
    10:50
    11:07
    12:00
    5

    The Power of Mindfulness and Self-Audit

    14:08
    14:56
    6

    Localizing the Behavior and Setting Boundaries

    15:52
    16:46
    7

    Moving from the Screen to the Real World

    18:29
    8

    Closing Reflections on Finding Your Balance

    21:18
    21:51
    21:58
    22:09

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