Doomscrolling at work wastes time, but the real cost is what happens after

Researchers found that employees who doomscroll at work experience reduced engagement not just during scrolling, but long afterward, as negative information continues to occupy their thoughts and distract them from their tasks. A study across U.S. and U.K. workers revealed that this rumination effect was particularly pronounced among people with higher levels of neuroticism. The hidden cost of doomscrolling extends beyond wasted time, as lingering preoccupation with distressing content diminishes overall work performance.