Aisha, 21, is a listening volunteer at the Blackburn branch.
"I have to Instagram’s, (one for my poetry and one is personal), TikTok, Pinterest, Tumblr, WhatsApp and Snapchat. Doomscrolling can be dangerous – it can mean going on the internet and social media and endlessly scrolling through potentially untrue and damaging content to our mental health. I have a poetry account on Instagram – I post things I’ve written and it’s been a surprisingly positive outlet for me.
"Doomscrolling can reinforce negative emotions or thought patterns for people. This might be expressed in harmful ways through people’s conversations and behaviours – it’s further spreading toxic information. Doomscrolling can take a snowball effect – the more you add to it, the more it increases. You can take something in, it amplifies and then you spread it back out."
Because I’ve been on social media from a very young age and it’s been a part of my life for a long time now, I’ve learned how to take initiative for what I’m looking at and what I’m not.
"Practically this means I put a time restriction on apps – I have one hour limit on my Instagram per day for example. Doomscrolling is so easy to fall into!"
I also unfollow accounts that don’t make me feel good – certain posts, certain people. I don’t feel guilty about unfollowing them.
"I used to follow accounts that promoted pessimistic attitudes and it rubbed off on my mental health and overall mood. I started to recognise this link and began to follow mote positive individuals. It’s made me feel reassured and inspired and changed my relationship with social media. I love watching baby animal videos too! There’s a certain page I follow called @thishappypage and they share happy and uplifting content."
I’d also advocate for more mindful browsing. Be conscious of what you’re doing when you’re online
"A lot of the time, we might open our phones and aren’t even aware of what we’re doing – it can be like muscle memory, it can come before opening messages even or first thing in the morning."
Further support and information
Practical tips if you find yourself ‘doomscrolling’ online news and social media
If you're finding it hard to cope with the news and social media, you’re not alone.
Online safety resources
Guidance for young people on staying safe online when finding support for themselves or trying to support others.
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