Doomscrolling: Why do we do it?

6 Minute English

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 February 2023

⏱️ 6 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We discuss if there is an evolutionary reason why we're attracted to bad news.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a download from BBC Learning English.
0:03.1	To find out more, visit our website.
0:12.6	Hello, this is 6 minutes English from BBC Learning English.
0:15.5	I'm Sam.
0:16.2	And I'm Neil.
0:17.2	Have you heard the expression Doomscrolling, Neil?
0:20.7	It's when people spend a lot of time reading or scrolling,
0:24.8	a mobile phone or computer screen in order to read negative news stories,
0:29.6	stories full of doom.
0:31.3	I hate to admit it, but I do sometimes doomscroll.
0:35.1	Well, don't feel too bad, Neil, because you're not alone.
0:38.3	Research from the University of California found that people all over the world doomscroll,
0:43.6	regardless of culture.
0:45.3	What's more, there may even be evolutionary reasons why we're attracted to bad news.
0:50.4	In this programme, we'll be investigating why we feel compelled to look at
0:54.9	and even seek out bad news.
0:58.0	And as usual, we'll be learning some new vocabulary as well.
1:01.3	But before that, I have a question for you, Neil.
1:04.2	Doomscrolling is a very modern idea, which is only possible with the 24-7
1:09.2	non-stop cycle of news reporting.
1:11.4	So according to international news agency Reuters,
1:14.5	what has been the top global news story of 2023 so far?
	...

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