Doom Scrolling is a recent slang term that has gained popularity amongst young people, especially in the digital age. Nowadays, children are connected 24/7 with their smartphones, tablets, PCs, and this trend has brought up new behaviours and concerns relating to mental health.
Doom Scrolling Defined
As per our slang dictionary, Doom Scrolling refers to "the act of staying absorbed in one’s phone to the detriment of their well-being and mental health." The term is essentially used to describe the phenomenon in which individuals continuously scroll through their social media feeds or news apps, often consuming negative or distressing news.For instance, a student might say, "I probably should’ve studied for the test last night, but I ended up just doom scrolling till like 2 a.m." Here, doom scrolling distracted the student from their primary task - studying - and lead them to stay up late, thereby potentially affecting their performance in the test as well as their sleep schedule.
Discussion between Parents and Kids on Doom Scrolling
- Exploring New Words: Ask your child, “What’s a new word you and your friends are into right now?”
This not only helps you learn about the new slang but could also give you a context to talk about doom scrolling.
- Relating with the Past: You could say, “When I was your age, people would say something was ‘all that and a bag of chips’ if it was awesome. What’s your favorite word to describe something as cool?”
This might help you understand how phrases evolve over time and how ‘doom scrolling’ might fit into their vocabulary.
- Digging into Emojis:
You can ask your kids, “I know emojis can mean something different to kids than they do to parents. Are there any emojis I use that you think I should stop using?” or “If you could describe yourself using just one emoji, which one would you pick?”
Through this, you could not only understand their digital language better but also create an opportunity to talk about their habits, including doom scrolling.
Stay tuned to our blog for more insights and helpful guides on the digital languages and behaviours of today’s generation!