'DOOM SCROLLING': SURVEY FINDS SOCIAL MEDIA USERS CHANGING HABITS BECAUSE OF RISING TENSIONS

Are you caught in a downward spiral of Doomscrolling? Do you find yourself feasting on a steady diet of doom-and-gloom news? Founder of Social Mama APP is an expert on digital trends as well as understanding digital behavior AMANDA DUCACH

During this unprecedented time in our country, new research shows our social media habits are changing. The pandemic, politics and race relations have increased tensions around the country. A new survey from The Ohio State University* Wexner Medical Center finds more than half of Americans (56%) have changed their social media habits because of tensions surrounding current events. "There's another shift of people doing what we call 'doom scrolling,' like looking for the worst stories out there and binging on doom stories. It is the current social equivalent to watching a train wreck," said Dr. Kenneth Yeager, the director of the Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Program at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. About 20% of people surveyed said they have taken social media breaks. Dr. Yeager said while you cannot control what is online, you can limit your exposure. "If you're feeling agitated, frustrated, stop, step away from social media, engage in activities outside, maybe with your children or family, maybe helping others in the community," Dr. Yeager said. Andrea Koder spends a few hours on social media every day, but recently she's noticed a change in what she's seeing. "A lot of fear and worry and skepticism and pessimism and that kind of thing. Not a whole lot of hope and, you know, good stuff, so I think there's just been a lot of animosity," she said.