What is Doomsday Surfing or Doomsday Scrolling?

People are continuously reading about the pandemic and news related to it. They are even sacrificing their working hours or crucial sleep time in the process. This is being done compulsively. This scenario is called Doomsday Scrolling.

What is Doomsday Surfing?

It is the tendency to scroll through bad news even though the news is saddening or depressing. The term Doomsday Surfing is one of the new lexicon of words the COVID-19 has introduced into the daily lives of man.

Who is performing Doomsday surfing?

This is done by almost every human being on the earth. People in the age group of 15 years to 30 years are surfing to seek help. On the other hand, the people in the age group of 30 years to 45 years are blaming others on social media. On the brighter side, the senior age people are trying to spread positivity and spirituality.

Why did Doomsday Surfing arise?

It has become a behavioural addiction. As people become more and more addictive, the social media algorithms designed to feed to the addictions serve up fulfilling the interests. This becomes a vicious cycle.

Dopamine and Doomsday Surfing

Both positive and negative news gives dopamine high. Thus, Doomsday Surfing increases dopamine levels. Dopamine is a chemical compound found naturally in human body. It is a neuro transmitter. It controls the movements of the person. The right balance of dopamine is important for both physical and mental wellbeing.

High Dopamine levels lead to difficulty in sleeping, increased energy levels, anxiety, stress. On the other hand, it also gives improved ability to focus and learn.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021