Scrolling can feel endless and even addictive, but there’s more happening beneath the surface than we often realize. Learn why it’s so easy to get pulled in, how it affects the mind, and simple ways to develop healthier digital habits.

Hartland Fall Convocation 2025: Engage Clarity Mode

<p>Scrolling can feel endless and even addictive, but there’s more happening beneath the surface than we often realize. Learn why it’s so easy to get pulled in, how it affects the mind, and simple ways to develop healthier digital habits.</p>

<p>Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US)</a> license.</p>

Hartland Institute of Health and Education

David Buruchara

Lilena Walker

Doom-scrolling: The Side You Didn’t Know That Will Make You Want to Quit

And if you don't, you're in the right place.

So why don't we say a prayer and dive right into things?

Father, we thank you for this wonderful convocation, for bringing each and every 1 of us here.

We thank you for the message that was shared by Brother Rico and just all the workshops and the fellowship, the wonderful food.

And now as we talk about doom scrolling, Lord, we acknowledge that, Lord, you know all things and you are not surprised even by the modern challenges that we face that maybe 20 years ago, we wouldn't have even had a conversation about this.

But you see the end from the beginning, and we know that you have a word and wisdom for us at each stage of life and each stage of our history.

Help us now, speak to us in Jesus name, Amen.

So, as by way of introduction, my name is David Bruchara.

And, you know, doom scrolling is something that, like I said in the prayer, 20 years ago, I don't think there would have been a seminar about doom scrolling.

It's only because of these devices that we have in our hand that we now have to start talking and having seminars to address it, right?

Because whether we like it or not, our spiritual formation, right, is impacted by our relationship with our screens.

Now, this is the age that we now live, right?

I imagine in heaven, we'll meet people like Ellen White, and they'll be like, wow, I didn't even, you know, I didn't even write about that 1, you know?

But the principles remain the same, right?

But you know, there's some challenges that people back in the day would be like, wow, you guys dealt with a lot of issues.

We're talking about this idea called doom scrolling.

What is the difference between scrolling, so I'm on my phone, I'm just scrolling, versus doom scrolling?

You made the doom soldier message and I love it.

Because I believe that in many ways, these devices, God can use them for his glory.

That these mediums of communication have allowed even people who have not access to the gospel, because of internet, because of communication, they have access.

So I think we're not saying that phones are necessarily bad.

Yes, but we're talking about doom scrolling.

So doom scrolling is defined as compulsive.

That's 1 aspect of compulsive scrolling on social media that happens for an extended period of time and I say extended because the time we spend on social media is Really the the only problem.

It's the time that we're putting into it.

So if we're scrolling, you know, looking for something specific on Instagram, maybe it's like 5 minutes, that's not doom scrolling, right?

But when you notice yourself, you're kind of getting in bed, you're getting comfortable, you know, and then an hour goes by and all you've been doing is watching reel after reel after video after video after clip after clip.

And they call it doom scrolling because there's a negative effect or there's doom at the end, right?

There's negative mental health effects, relational health effects, negativity lies, right?

It's for an extended period of time and it leads to negative health effects.

So there's 3 areas there, compulsivity, time, and impact.

This reminds me, You know, some of us may be victims of doom scrolling.

Yo, that's like, have you guys had Popcorners?

I've never been able to just like eat like 5.

It has to be at least, yeah, at least 55.

Like you're like, oh, let me just, just 1 more.

And my friend Chris is laughing at me because he knows I like food.

And you realize that it's not just, it's not just with doom scrolling, But it's many things, right?

It's this idea that, oh, let me just take a little bit.

And then you find yourself taking more and more and more.

And then at the end of it, you're left feeling like, why did I just Spend all that time eating all those snacks.

And some of you are laughing because you know it's true.

I feel like doom scrolling to some extent scratches an itch that we all have.

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Doom-scrolling: The Side You Didn’t Know That Will Make You Want to Quit

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