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ZENODO
Article . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Article . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Doomscrolling and Mental Fatigue: Cognitive Overload in the Era of Crisis Media

Authors: Parhlad Singh Ahluwalia;

Doomscrolling and Mental Fatigue: Cognitive Overload in the Era of Crisis Media

Abstract

The phenomenon of doomscrolling—the compulsive consumption of negative news content through digital media—has emerged as a significant public health concern in the digital age. This paper examines the psychological and cognitive mechanisms underlying doomscrolling behavior and its relationship to mental fatigue and cognitive overload. Through analysis of recent neuropsychological research, social media usage patterns, and crisis media consumption data, this study reveals three primary pathways through which doomscrolling contributes to mental exhaustion: (1) cognitive resource depletion through continuous information processing of threatening stimuli, (2) emotional regulation breakdown resulting from sustained exposure to distressing content, and (3) attention fragmentation caused by the addictive design features of digital media platforms. The research demonstrates that doomscrolling creates a paradoxical cycle where individuals seek information to reduce uncertainty but instead experience heightened anxiety and cognitive fatigue. Drawing on cognitive load theory and dual-process models of information processing, this analysis reveals how the human brain's evolutionary threat-detection mechanisms become maladaptive in the context of infinite digital news feeds. The findings indicate that prolonged doomscrolling can lead to measurable decrements in cognitive performance, increased susceptibility to misinformation, and significant deterioration in mental health outcomes. This paper concludes with evidence-based interventions for breaking doomscrolling patterns and protecting cognitive resources in an era of unprecedented information abundance.

Keywords

doomscrolling, cognitive overload, mental fatigue, crisis media, information processing, digital wellbeing, social media fatigue, existential anxiety, attention economy, media psychology

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green