The blue light burden: Why teens can’t look away
It’s 11:00 p.m., and your teen’s face is illuminated by the blue light of their phone.
They aren’t texting friends or playing games; they’re scrolling through a relentless feed of global conflict, environmental disasters, and political unrest.
You notice they’ve become more withdrawn, cynical, or prone to sudden bursts of news anxiety.
As a parent, you might be wondering, is news bad for your mental health?
While staying informed is a virtue, the modern 24-hour news cycle—delivered directly into our children’s pockets—can lead to media overload
For a generation that is naturally empathetic and globally connected, the weight of the world can feel like a personal burden.
Understanding the cycle: What is doomscrolling?
If your teen seems stuck in a loop of bad news consumption, they might be doomscrolling, a term used to describe continuously scrolling through bad news, even when it’s saddening, disheartening, or depressing.
For teens, this isn’t just about staying informed. It’s a biological trap.
The human brain is wired to pay close attention to threats. Social media algorithms capitalize on this, feeding your teen more of what they fear in a bid for more engagement. These same algorithms often prioritize distorted realities that fuel body dissatisfaction and existential stress.
This constant exposure to media that feels like a threat can trigger a fight-or-flight response that never turns off, leading to
- Existential dread: A feeling that the world is fundamentally broken and the future is doomed.
- Secondary trauma: Experiencing psychological distress by witnessing the suffering of others through high-definition video.
- Sleep deprivation: Using news “to stay prepared” keeps the brain too wired for rest.
The negative effects of watching the news
While adults often have the life experience to compartmentalize global tragedies, teens are still developing their emotional regulation skills, making them especially vulnerable to the negative effects of watching the news.
When teens see massive problems they cannot fix, they may stop trying to manage the problems they can solve, like their homework or social relationships, developing a general sense of learned helplessness.
According to a study published in Health Communication, people with high levels of news consumption are significantly more likely to experience physical ill-being, stress, and anxiety.
Similarly, the Mayo Clinic notes that constant exposure to distressing news can exacerbate pre-existing anxiety disorders, making it difficult for teens to distinguish between immediate threats and distant tragedies.
Practical steps: How to avoid doomscrolling
The goal isn’t to raise an uninformed child but a resilient one. Here are ways you can help your teen manage media overload:
- Establish “news-free” zones: Encourage everyone (parents included!) to put phones away at least one hour before bed and during meals.
- Curate the feed: Help your teen follow “good news” accounts or creators who focus on solutions rather than problems. This balances bad news with positive progress.
- Check in: Ask your teen, “How do you feel after spending 20 minutes on that app?” Self-awareness is the first step toward learning how to avoid doomscrolling.
- Shift to local action: Powerlessness is the root of anxiety. If your teen is worried about the environment, help them join a local cleanup. If they’re worried about hunger, volunteer at a food bank. Action is the antidote to despair.
When “world worry” becomes a mental health crisis
Sometimes, the weight of global events can trigger deep anxiety that doesn’t go away when the phone is turned off.
If your teen is losing sleep, expressing a total lack of hope for the future, or experiencing panic attacks related to current events, it may be time for professional support.
At Avery’s House, we help teens navigate the complexities of the digital age. We address the root causes of news-related stress and help them differentiate between the world’s problems and their own well-being.
By combining tools for digital boundaries with evidence-based therapies, we help teens gain perspective and find their footing.
Contact Avery’s House today to help your teen find peace in this noisy and uncertain world.
