Information Overload
Nowadays, we’re constantly steeped in information, which back in the day—when the search for truth and innovation was endless—probably seemed amazing. On the contrary, this period of over-informing has caused people to be stuck marinating in contradictions, self-doubt, and a nagging distrust of the media. Not only that, but living in an era of constantly-updated data, new studies, old ideas, and reactive media, keeping up with current events is not only a full-time job, but an emotionally taxing obligation as an adult. We must remain informed and updated on the world’s happenings, lest we recede into the wilderness, escaping humanity and living under a false pretext of ignorance.
Albeit enticing to go live under a rock, as humans, we’re forced to reckon with the likes of society—and ignoring the news and turning a blind eye to society doesn’t make it all go away.
Now, we exist in a nearly constant state of change and expansion, largely because of this innovative online connectivity providing informational access. We no longer live in a world where we have to peruse the card catalog at the library to find a book containing a specific keyword we’re looking for—nowadays, we can Google Search anything, from anywhere, and anytime. “It is possible to conveniently and actively access diverse information, and we also passively receive large amounts of information and messages,” explains Miriam Arnold, a psychology scientist at the Leibniz Institute. “Information overload was cited as one of the most frequent stressors by 22.5% of respondents [in a mental health study].”
So while it may seem intriguing to tap into an overflowing plethora of information, there’s only so much the human brain can process. In addition, because of its accessibility and user-friendliness, the Internet is a fairly unreliable source of information, inundating us with heady claims that may or may not even be true. Unlike those printed newspapers of yore, Georgetown University’s own library warns that “information available on the Internet is not regulated for quality or accuracy; therefore, it is particularly important for the individual Internet user to evaluate the resource or information.”
Before the Internet, we trusted the pros, the experts, the scientists, and the researchers to peer review, test, and vet information, and now we—the curious common folk—are stuck navigating the increasingly murky depths of an impossibly deep information pool. But by dipping a toe in the abyss, we can arm ourselves with knowledge that can help us prepare for uncertainties of the future.
Blissful Ignorance
These days, it requires work to stay informed because we can’t trust everything we see online. So if we come across a scary headline or an unbelievable meme about a current event, to accurately process that nugget of information, we’re forced to take a dive into the endless depths of the Internet.
And while the Internet is already an opaque source of info, there are even more layers to Pandora’s box. Mandy Jenkins, the Online News Association President, has been actively researching the public’s dwindling distrust in news sources online. She claims, “there are lots of people who don’t like seeing opinions in their news and having all of that mixed together… And they don’t feel like journalists—many of whom don’t live in their communities—have skin in the game.” As we read anything online, attempting to process the world’s many immensely disturbing happenings, it must be taken with a grain of salt. Frankly, with the overwhelming nature of the media coupled with our increasingly abysmal reality, it’s extremely tempting to completely avoid scrolling through headlines online. If we don’t see it, it’s not happening right?
But while ignorance may be bliss, it’s still ignorance.
However, Bethany Teachman, a University of Virginia Professor of Psychology and an expert in managing anxiety claims, “there is a healthy side to this information-seeking that helps us to know what precautions we need to take during this time of elevated threat.” In times of increased uncertainty, it’s human nature to seek a solution, and having the access and ability to tap into the ancient and modern wisdom of humanity can be helpful. However, Teachman continues, “yet there is clearly also an unhealthy side that can leave us constantly on edge and worried we will miss the critical piece of information that will keep us safe and give us the answers we crave.”
Born in the womb of uncertainty, doomscolling took root alongside the search for truth online. Like an evil twin to ‘research,’ doomscrolling is a growing mental health issue for educated truth-seekers online. But when faced with the options of remaining educated or falling into foolishness, a healthy doomscroll is in order, turning our attention to the monstrous media in more bite-sized pieces.
u/userELAINE_EXE via u/iamokayaf
Putting the ‘Doom’ Back in ‘Doomscrolling’
Have you ever sat staring at your phone for hours, anxiously flipping through headlines, feeds, memes, videos, and back again? Hungrily devouring every shred of information that flits across your screen, filling your head with contradictions instead of enlightened reassurance. Congratulations, you’ve reached a threshold of retention where once helpful information is now the detriment to your mental stability. You’re a doomscroller.
As many folks are painfully aware, while our information onslaught seems constant, none of it seems positive. "We're not getting any messages about hope—it's all negativity," says Dr. Richard Mollica, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Online, we’re flooded with opinions, random unvetted essays, and the darkest stories imaginable—it’s not like Mom and Pop newspapers from back in the day, but still, we must keep a finger to the pulse of society. “Often, doomscrolling starts with a goal of becoming more aware of a situation so you can understand what’s happening and prepare yourself for it” according to health journalist Alisa Bowman. With informedness comes stress, but also wisdom.
Doomscrolling comes from a place of curiosity and keen interest and, like our parents who flipped through the pages of the morning journal, we’re still morally obligated to make an attempt at adequate assimilation in the real world. On the bright side, those of us willing to scroll ourselves into mental unwellness are also clever enough to implement our own boundaries, engaging in a balancing act that simultaneously keeps us informed and protects our sanity.
Balancing Act
Most experts agree that a 15-20 minute time limit is the safest range to protect your mental health and still engage with the optimal information absorption. In that scope, we can doomscroll in a healthy way, filtering through the chaff of online information, seeking well-researched proof, and continuing to engage in the world’s happenings. While it’s intimidating to tackle, it’s imperative to remain plugged in, despite fear, worries, and woes. Because at the end of the day, information is the most powerful weapon.
Healthy doomscrolling is an act of defiance against a noisy media and securing a well-informed mindset is the only way we can tackle whatever comes next.
Armed and Judicious
Back then, we dreamed of flying cars, the Jetsons’ talking robot buddy, and a more stable future, but instead we’re living in 2025. We are left instead with clattering Cybertrucks, Siri and Alexa, and more uncertainty than ever. Without a finite newspaper coming to a neat conclusion at the end of breakfast anymore, modern information seekers must set their own deadlines, micro-doomscrolling to stay plugged into an increasingly clouded world. All of us have a molehill worth protecting and the best way to keep our corner of the world safe is to understand exactly what we’re up against.
Via u/betches