4: 60 year old man
Works from home, loves new technology, a lot of daily screen time.
Have you heard the term “doomscrolling” before?
Yes, I’ve come across it online.
What does it mean to you?
A side effect of modern information overload.
How often do you find yourself doomscrolling?
Occasionally, especially during news-heavy periods.
What kinds of content do you tend to doomscroll?
Mainly technology, global politics, and economic trends I would say.
What usually triggers you?
Curiosity and wanting to stay updated.
Are there certain situations or moods?
During work breaks or late evenings at home.
How do you feel while doomscrolling?
Mentally stimulated but also tense.
How do you feel when you stop?
Often aware that instead of spending my break scrolling on my phone, i should have given my brain a proper break.
Do you feel it serves a purpose?
Yes, staying informed feels important to me.
Have you tried to reduce it?
I’ve tried replacing it with podcasts or long-form articles, but I did still spend a lot of time scrolling.
What pulls you out of it?
Meetings, work tasks, or eye strain.
Looking back, how does it affect your life?
I think it contributes to mental fatigue more than I’d like to admit.
5: 61 year old woman
Partially on sick leave, works part-time from home.
Have you heard the term “doomscrolling” before?
Yes, and I immediately recognized myself in it.
What does it mean to you?
Scrolling even when you know you should stop.
How often do you doomscroll?
Almost every day.
What kinds of content do you tend to doomscroll?
News, health-related topics, social media posts.
What usually triggers you?
Fatigue and lack of energy to do anything else.
Are there certain situations or moods?
When I’m too tired to rest properly but too restless to stop.
How do you feel while doomscrolling?
Sort of numb at first, then guilty.
How do you feel when you stop?
Tired, guilty and sort of useless.
Do you feel it serves a purpose?
It fills time when I dont have anything to do, but it also steals my time when I actually have something I should be doing.
Have you tried to stop or reduce it?
Yes, but when I’m exhausted, scrolling feels like the easiest option.
What pulls you out of it?
Physical discomfort or realizing how much time has passed.
Looking back, how does it affect your mental health?
I think it increases my tiredness and makes it harder to recover.
6: 70 year old man
Retired, lot of free time. Mainly uses Facebook to stay in touch with old friends.
Have you heard the term “doomscrolling” before?
No, not really. But i can imagine what it is about.
What does it mean to you?
Would assume scrolling through negative news and discussions online, awaiting an inevitable doom.
How often do you find yourself scrolling through negative or distressing content?
A few times a week. It’s not constant, but I often spend more time than I intend to.
What kinds of content do you tend to doomscroll?
Mostly news articles shared on Facebook, political posts, and comment sections. I rarely watch videos as I’m not interested in humorous or entertaining content.
What usually triggers you to start doomscrolling?
Usually I just log on to check notifications from updates from friends, and then something catches my attention.
Are there certain situations or moods that make you doomscroll more or less?
I do it more when I’m alone and don’t have much planned. When I’m busy or social, I dont check social media.
How do you usually feel while you’re doomscrolling?
At first I feel interested and engaged, but over time I become bored of it and somewhat discouraged.
How do you feel when you stop?
Often more heavy-hearted than before I started.
Do you feel like doomscrolling serves a purpose for you in the moment?
Yes, it gives me a sense of staying informed and helps pass the time.
Have you ever tried to stop or reduce your doomscrolling?
I’ve tried to be more mindful of how long I spend on Facebook, but it’s not easy to stick to it.
What usually pulls you out of a doomscrolling session?
Realizing that I have spent a lot of time on it, or simply feeling tired of reading negative content.
Looking back, how do you think doomscrolling affects your mental health, mood, or daily life overall?
I don’t think it affects me as much as it might do younger people. For me Facebook is important for maintaining social connections, so I don’t want to give it up completely.








