Escaping The Doomscroll: How Social Media Could Work With Us, Not Against Us

Learn about the 4 types of social media users and how your online experience could be redesigned.

By Jenny Lehmann
May 9, 2025 5:15 PMMay 9, 2025 5:17 PM
Doomscrolling
(Image Credit: Bits And Splits/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Social media: it’s where we catch up with friends, watch funny videos, and sometimes fall into a bottomless pit of doomscrolling, that curiously compelling habit of consuming excessive amounts of news and other content — especially of the negative or stressful variety. While social platforms promise connection and entertainment, many of us feel overwhelmed by how much time we spend there, and how little we get out of it.

New research from the University of Bristol offers a fresh perspective. Published in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, the study suggests that a healthier online experience doesn’t come from cutting social media out of our lives altogether, but using it in a way that matches our personal motivations and boundaries.

When Social Media Turns into Addiction

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group