The Doomscrolling Trap

Description

When everything feels urgent, we simply can’t look away. This session explores the psychology behind doomscrolling (the compulsive consumption of negative news) and why our brains struggle to disengage. Participants will examine how uncertainty, fear, and the illusion of control fuel compulsive scrolling, and what it does to attention, emotion, and civic action. You'll discover tools to build healthier media habits in crisis-heavy environments.

Focus area:

Misinformation & Manipulation

Program Details

1 week

Outcome

Identify the emotional and neurological drivers of doomscrolling and reclaim focus

1-2 weeks

Psychological Foundations

🧠 Intolerance of Uncertainty

🧠 Emotion (Dys-)Regulation

🧠 Executive Control & Attentional Bias

3 week

Key Takeaways

☑️ Learn why negative content grabs and holds attention

☑️ Understand the emotional and cognitive cost of overexposures

☑️ Practice strategies to engage mindfully

☑️ Explore the role of control, fear, and uncertainty in compulsive scrolling

3 week

Choose this when

You feel stuck in crisis-driven media habits

Emotional overwhelm is replacing informed action or focus

4 week

Great for

Youth Workers and Schools

‍Who want tools to help young people build healthier information habits and emotional boundaries online

Mental Health Professionals

‍Seeking frameworks to address stress, numbing, and helplessness linked to constant media exposure

Public Health and Safety Teams

‍Looking for guidance on communicating crisis without triggering panic, disengagement, or fatigue

NGOs and Crisis Communications Teams

‍Wanting strategies to conduct public outreach without contributing to burnout, fear, or media overload

Description

Program Details

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