Teen Slang · Online & texting

What does “Doom scroll” mean?

Endlessly scrolling depressing news or social media, unable to stop.

Where “Doom scroll” comes from

Pandemic-era coinage describing compulsive bad-news consumption.

Why teens actually say it

Names a now-universal anxious behavior teens recognize in themselves.

What it means for you as a parent

Worth opening a conversation about — they may welcome help managing it.

How it’s used

  • “I doom scrolled till 2am and feel awful now.” Admitting a habit that left them drained. Quiet self-aware regret.
  • “Stop doom scrolling, it’s just making you sad.” A caring nudge to a friend stuck in a bad loop.

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