Dr. Manju Antil | Counseling Psychologist | Psychotherapist | Educator| Founder- Wellnessnetic Care

Doomscrolling and Empathy Fatigue — The Emotional Toll of Constant Exposure

By Dr. Manju Antil
Psychologist | Assistant Professor, School of Behavioural Sciences, Apeejay Stya University | Founder, Wellnessnetic Care

In the age of smartphones, social media, and 24/7 news cycles, a silent epidemic has emerged: doomscrolling. This compulsive consumption of negative or anxiety-inducing content has profound psychological implications, particularly for Generation G, who are both digitally immersed and socially aware.

Yet, the effects are not limited to anxiety. Doomscrolling fuels empathy fatigue, a state where continuous exposure to distressing content diminishes the capacity to feel for others. The modern digital citizen finds themselves emotionally exhausted, morally burdened, and paradoxically numb.

Defining Doomscrolling and Empathy Fatigue

Doomscrolling refers to the act of persistently scrolling through negative content online, even when it worsens one’s emotional state. It is often triggered by fear, curiosity, or a perceived social responsibility to stay informed.

Empathy fatigue, also called compassion fatigue, occurs when repeated exposure to suffering — whether through news, social media, or viral content — overwhelms emotional resources, reducing one’s ability to respond empathetically.

For Gen G, the overlap is critical: their cognitive engagement with digital platforms is inseparable from their emotional experiences.

Psychological Mechanisms at Play

1. Cognitive Overload
   Consuming streams of distressing content engages the brain’s threat detection systems continuously, increasing cortisol levels and weakening emotional regulation.

2. Intermittent Reinforcement
   Like social validation loops, doomscrolling creates a compulsive behaviour pattern. Negative content triggers curiosity and engagement, making it difficult to stop even when it causes distress.

3. Vicarious Trauma
   Constant exposure to crises — wars, disasters, injustice — generates secondary traumatic stress, particularly among individuals who identify strongly with victims’ experiences.

4. Reduced Emotional Bandwidth
   Overexposure to suffering leads the brain to “shut down” empathic responses as a self-protective mechanism, resulting in desensitization.

Case Illustration

A recent counselling case involved a young professional:

“I spend hours on news apps, watching everything bad happening in the world. By evening, I feel drained. I don’t even want to help people anymore, even though I care deeply. I feel guilty, but I can’t stop.”

This statement captures the paradox of empathy fatigue: awareness and concern coexist with emotional depletion. For Generation G, who value social responsibility and activism, this tension is particularly distressing.

Consequences for Mental Health

• Anxiety and Depression: Continuous exposure to distressing content can trigger chronic stress, rumination, and mood disorders.
• Emotional Numbness: Overload diminishes both positive and negative emotional responsiveness.
• Social Withdrawal: Individuals may avoid social interactions due to emotional exhaustion.
• Reduced Prosocial Behaviour: Compassion fatigue can lower engagement in altruistic acts.

Therapeutic and Educational Interventions

To counter doomscrolling and empathy fatigue, interventions must be both cognitive and behavioural:

1. Digital Detox Windows
   Schedule breaks from news and social media to allow emotional recovery and reduce chronic stress.

2. Mindfulness-Based Media Engagement
   Practices like reflective journaling or mindful scrolling help individuals maintain awareness of their emotional state while consuming content.

3. Emotional Boundaries Training
   Encourage setting limits on exposure to highly distressing content, distinguishing between being informed and being overwhelmed.

4. Empathy Recharge Exercises
   Activities such as guided compassion meditation or active volunteer work can restore emotional resources depleted by digital exposure.

A Forward Psychological View

Doomscrolling and empathy fatigue represent a new frontier in media psychology. Generation G is not inherently maladaptive; they are navigating an unprecedented informational environment without established emotional guidelines.

As psychologists, educators, and parents, our role is to equip individuals with digital emotional resilience. Awareness alone is insufficient; practical skills in regulating attention, setting boundaries, and recharging empathy are essential for healthy psychological functioning.

In the near future, digital literacy must include emotional literacy — an understanding that caring does not require constant exposure, and emotional preservation is a form of responsible empathy.

Generation G has the potential to be globally aware, socially responsible, and emotionally intelligent — but only if we teach them to scroll consciously, not compulsively.

🔍 Next in the Series:

“Filter Bubbles and the Decline of Critical Thinking in Generation G”
Exploring how algorithmic curation limits exposure to diverse viewpoints, shaping cognitive biases, social perception, and decision-making.