It often begins harmlessly — a quick scroll before bed, just to catch up. But before you know it, an hour slips by. You’re still glued to your screen, watching footage of bombed cities, tearful voices recounting loss, and breaking news banners that blur into each other.

Your heart races, sleep feels distant, and the weight of a world in crisis sits heavy on your chest. For many young adults, this is a ritual where the line between staying informed and being emotionally overwhelmed fades away.

And it’s not just anecdotal. A study by the World Health Organisation, conducted across 44 countries, found that 11% of adolescents show signs of problematic social media use — struggling to control how much time they spend online.

In an age where war, climate disasters, and humanitarian crises are streamed live onto our screens, that lack of regulation takes on a deeper significance. It’s not just about screen time anymore — it’s about the emotional toll of constant exposure.

Mental health experts warn that this barrage of distressing content can chip away at our emotional resilience. Graphic images, harrowing videos, and an unrelenting flood of negative news can trigger intense stress, anxiety, and even panic. This pattern of compulsive content consumption, especially during global crises, is now commonly referred to as “doom-scrolling” — a term popularised by Harvard Health Publishing to describe the inability to stop scrolling through bad news, even when it causes distress.

The Better India spoke to mental health professionals who emphasised the importance of setting boundaries, filtering graphic content, and being intentional about media consumption — all vital steps to protect our well-being in an age of overwhelming information.

The science behind why scrolling feels good — and then doesn’t

Let’s be honest — giving up social media entirely feels nearly impossible today. And it’s not just because we’re addicted to the apps. There’s a real emotional payoff — that little spark of joy when someone likes your post or replies instantly. It feels good, like biting into your favourite dessert or getting a warm hug. That feeling comes from dopamine — the brain’s “reward chemical” — and social media is designed to trigger it.

But it’s not just the likes and hearts. What keeps us scrolling is also the uncertainty — what will show up next? Will someone respond? Did you miss something important? According to mental wellness coach Kiara Jain, this unpredictability is what makes social platforms so addictive, especially during times of crisis. “FOMO — the Fear of Missing Out — is already very real.

© The Better India