Civic Center
Feeling lousy? Stop Feeding On Doomsayers

We all know the feeling: we pick up our phones for a quick check, and suddenly, we've spent an hour immersed in a stream of distressing news. Not only do we wonder where the time went, we wonder why we feel drained and hopeless.
According to Dr. Laurel Williams, professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, “doomscrolling” as it’s known, is adversely affecting our mental and physical health. “If you're only looking at certain news sources and it's confirming all of your worst fears, then you will most likely feel pretty crummy.”
When we can’t control or alter the devastating news we habitually consume, it can leave us feeling overwhelmed and demoralized. It can also be physically debilitating, disrupting our sleep, eating habits, and relationships.
Attention-grabbing platforms notoriously use algorithms that are designed to hit your limbic system and reward you for scrolling. However, there's a healthier alternative gaining attention. It's called "hope scrolling" or "kindness scrolling."
Dr. Kim Penberthy, the Chester F. Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, says humans are hardwired to attend to negative stimuli. Hope scrolling, she said, provides a healthy balance, giving us a good reason to intentionally seek out positive and uplifting content.
Elaborating, Dr. Penberthy explains, "What we know from decades of psychophysiology research is that these perceptions of positive things—like when we see people being generous, or we see things that are kind and calming, or funny and charming—they send out these hormones in our body that are going to promote that feeling of connectedness, of safety. They're good for us. They're good for our body. Our body is saying, 'Oh, you can relax here. You're safe. This is good.' And when we do that over time, it is more helpful. We feel more positive, we are more relaxed, our stress is reduced, and thus our stress hormones."
Youtropolis strives to be that safe haven in the digital landscape. Unlike platforms driven by algorithms designed to keep you scrolling endlessly, Youtropolis creates a joyful social space that fosters connection and positivity without overwhelming your senses. With a goal of being "Everyone's social safety net" our open source platform is growing a base of user-generated communities that offer their own distinct blend of supportive and informative content aimed at promoting joy, inspiration, and mental wellbeing.
By choosing to engage with positive content and setting mindful boundaries, we can all transform our digital experiences into sources of hope and connection. Let's make conscious choices about our online consumption, seeking out spaces like Youtropolis that nourish our well-being and reflect the kindness we wish to see in the world.
Sanatana
Boy, that's me! I'm a doomscroller. I hate to admit it. Perhaps that's why I'm so anxious. I will try the hopescrolling and see what happens. I am grateful for Youtropolis and all the wonderful things it offers. The stories and all the different perspectives offers a way to reset myself from doom to hope.
Thank you for sharing this info.
Youngdannville
Being informed vs a dooms- scroller these days is a fine line that is often hard to navigate.
Evangel
I struggle with that fine line, too. So I impose limits by comparing informative news digestion to a nutritious meal. Doomscrolling goes beyond that--like enjoying that slice of cake I don't need. I have to walk away from the temptation, or put it out of sight, hoping that will put it out of mind.
youtropolis
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
It's a difficult and challenging time, and your angst is very understandable. Staying present is everyone's challenge right now.
On the upside, you are a leading example of someone who is always sharing positive, helpful, and constructive content through all the insightful stories and videos you post. Keep them coming. Keep tilting the world toward the positive. If even a fraction of people followed your example, the world would be easier to live in. You have many fans!
Faithville
I love the nudge to hope scrolling, thank you!
youtropolis
It's likely many people also "hope scroll" for news that affirms their beliefs. For those opposing the current administration, hope scrolling is news about Trump failing, being ousted, or DOGE decisions being overruled by the courts.
The definition of what constitutes "hope," however, differs from person to person. In general, anxious news scrollers are looking for news that will help settle their nerves and give them a sigh of relief.
With Project 2025 moving full steam ahead and countless executive orders being challenged in court, no one should hold their breath since final decisions may be held up for 2-3 years. Instead, we can all do our part to spread the light and create better alternatives.
As a Youtropolis "city founder," you have the power to shape your community and populate it with the kind of people and news that reflect the values you hold near and dear. Despite the dark headlines that assail us every day, there's so much happening in the world that's life-affirming and positive. These are the kinds of stories we can all share with each other—bringing each other joy and inspiration, and even hope.
Wilsons Grave
Youtropolis is my go-to for hopeful scrolling between work breaks. I'm inspired by liberator stories and other uplifting content. Now, instead of getting back to work agitated or pissed off, I feel energized...maybe even more tolerant of others.
Bootstrap
Turn notifications off and stay away from sources that you know have a negative impact on you. Even if they share the same view as you, they can stir you up as much as the opposition.