Doomscrolling Feels Responsible—Until It Makes Us Feel Worse
Psychology Today | 11.02.2026 04:52
In 2003, I was living in Caracas as Venezuela moved through a period of intense political rupture. A failed coup attempt the year before and a long strike that nearly paralyzed the economy deepened divisions around Hugo Chávez, as democratic institutions were being dismantled. I’d often find myself sitting in my in-laws’ living room with Globovisión on in the background, a 24-hour news channel known for its critical coverage of the government. As its breaking-news soundtrack filled the house, my jaw tightened, and my shoulders ached. I leaned forward every time the banners flashed on screen, as if my posture alone might coax history to move.
