From TikTok trends to Italian Brainrot memes, Gen Alpha is completely immersed in media…but it’s not all fun and games, and it’s not all entirely foreign, either. In fact, Gen Alpha is developing a not-so-healthy habit that previous generations are quite familiar with: doomscrolling. So what does this behavior look like and how might it be affecting your media-hungry tween or teen? Resist the urge to keep scrolling and instead read on for the full scoop from a psychiatrist.

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Meet the Expert

Dr. Nona Kocher, MD, MPH, is a board-certified psychiatrist dually licensed in New York and Florida. Known for her integrative approach, Dr. Kocher treats a wide range of conditions including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, insomnia, and schizophrenia.

What Is Doomscrolling?

Doomscrolling refers to prolonged and excessive engagement with negative media. And you might be thinking, well, isn’t that kind of unavoidable if you read the news? Yes and no. What sets doomscrolling apart is the mindlessness of it and its relationship to screen addiction. Dr. Kocher explains: “Doomscrolling doesn’t have to mean only heavy or alarming updates, though that is what often grabs attention the most. It’s the pattern of endlessly scrolling through streams of information. People may mix in lighter or neutral content, but the pull usually comes from stories that feel urgent or intense. What makes it draining is not just the subject matter but the nonstop pace and lack of pause.” In other words, the doom in doomscrolling might be exacerbated by the negativity of the content, but the endless scrolling is dooming enough in and of itself.

Why Is Gen Alpha Drawn to Doomscrolling and How Are They Doing It?

Doomscrolling wasn’t a thing in the good old days when you picked up your morning paper from the front porch and devoted some time to giving it a read. Indeed, doomscrolling is the result of modern technology and the constant stream of information it affords us—and Gen Alpha is the first generation to grow up entirely immersed in a world of smart phones, tablets and social media. In fact, the American Psychological Association reports that teenagers are spending nearly five hours a day on social media.

So why is Gen Alpha attracted to this particular activity, as opposed to a more measured mode of engagement with media? “Scrolling gives them a sense of control and constant stimulation, which feels hard to put down; and the design of apps keeps feeding them new posts, so it’s easy to lose track of time. Many also use it to feel connected with friends or to keep up with trends,” says Dr. Kocher, adding that “the mix of curiosity and fear of missing out makes the pull even stronger.”

And, as previously mentioned, doomscrolling for Gen Alpha doesn’t necessarily mean they’re bingeing updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict. In fact, the expert tells me that celebrity drama, online trends and challenges, school/peer gossip, live gaming streams and social media memes all fall into the category of doomscrolling, depending on how voraciously the Gen Alpha kid in question is consuming it.

How Is Doomscrolling Affecting the Growing Brains of Gen Alpha Kids?

Widespread access to technology and excessive screentime has some pretty dire consequences for Gen Alpha kids. Doomscrolling is the epitome of excess, so it should come as no surprise that it can do harm to the developing brain. “Doomscrolling locks the brain into a loop of constant stimulation. Each swipe gives a quick hit of dopamine, which tricks the brain into thinking more scrolling will feel good, even when it doesn’t. As a result, the front part of the brain that handles focus and clear thinking gets worn down, making it harder to concentrate on one task. Sleep also becomes harder to settle into because the brain doesn’t know when to power down,” explains Dr. Kocher. For Gen Alpha kids, whose brains are still wiring themselves, this kind of habit can interrupt healthy growth of attention and self-control. In fact, the expert emphasizes that if the habit is sustained for years, “it can leave [Gen Alpha kids] more anxious, scattered, and less able to manage stress in daily life.”

So yeah, when it comes to Gen Alpha trends, this one kind of has doomsday written all over it. Unfortunately, the best solution is one that will likely make you the most annoying parent ever in the eyes of your offspring: strict screentime limits. Make sure your kid powers down the iPad and spends the majority of their free time socializing in the real world, and restrict their technology use to shorter periods of time, preferably not before bed.

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