THE PHENOMENON OF DOOMSCROLLING BEHAVIOR AMONG STUDENTS OF SMAN 1 TUMPANG

Abstract

Doomscrolling refers to the compulsive habit of endlessly scrolling through social media, particularly to access negative information, which can have detrimental effects on mental health. This study aims to describe the phenomenon of doomscrolling behavior among students at SMAN 1 Tumpang. Employing a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design, the data collection methods included in-depth interviews, non-participatory observation, and documentation of doomscrolling activities. Four students were selected as participants through purposive sampling aligned with the research objectives. The findings reveal that doomscrolling primarily occurs on Instagram, TikTok, and X, particularly at night before sleep, and occasionally during moments of boredom, even within the school environment. The behavior negatively impacts students’ emotional states, leading to mood swings, anxiety, and mental fatigue after exposure to negative content. Although students are aware of its harmful effects and have attempted to reduce the habit, doomscrolling remains difficult to stop due to its addictive nature and the high engagement of digital content. These findings highlight the urgent need for intervention from various stakeholders, particularly school counselors, in designing preventive and curative strategies to help students manage social media use more healthily.