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#CollectiveCare 👾 Preventive and Protective Collective Care for (Doom) Scrollers
- Manushya Foundation
- 7 minutes ago
- 5 min read
What care practices can we apply to help us stay connected and present to both our online and offline realities, and how do we prepare our mindsets and boundaries to help us navigate an increasingly complex and intimidating online space?
It continues to be important for us to stay connected online with others, and updated about things happening in the rapidly shapeshifting world we live in.
But in order for us to sustain our (much needed) long-term resistance and (re)building efforts, we must take active steps to avoid the burnout, exhaustion, as well as loss of self and spirit that come from not being mindful about our digital habits, such as (doom)scrolling.
‘Doom scrolling’ = ‘Scrolling’ through social media and other information sources, often through stress-inducing content without practicing adequate care while doing so (e.g. shifting our mindsets, setting practical boundaries). Though this behavior is an understandable response to our current circumstances, it can become draining and unhealthy for the mind, body, and spirit.
This is absolutely not to say we need to disconnect from the digital space entirely. It does not have to be ‘all or nothing.’ There are many reasons why it might be important for us to stay connected and updated on social media, as people fighting fascism, as well as people just trying to survive these times. Online platforms can be useful tools for:
Staying in touch with our online communities.
Organizing and mobilizing.
Gaining knowledge.
Bearing witness to our current reality, including news and updates from on-the-ground activists.
At the same time…
...there are also many reasons why it is also important for us to have boundaries with our consumption of online information, as part of our collective care practices:
Staying in touch with our offline reality.
Caring for our collective wellbeing.
Growing our capacity to be more discerning about the information we take in.
Remembering that even when there are so many reasons to be anxious, we deserve to balance that with joy, centeredness, fearlessness, and well-restedness.
Withholding our attention and information from corporations harvesting our data for profit, wherever possible.
Healing from social media/(doom)scrolling addiction and thus protecting our time and energy, which are very valuable resources (often in short supply in these times). It is easier said than done, but healing from addictive, energy-draining tendencies can serve as powerful forms of anti-capitalist resistance and self-love.
How do we find balance?
Recognizing the reasons we might (doom)scroll…
“I feel anxious about the state of the world, and feel the need to stay updated all the time.”
“I feel like I need to be constantly taking in more information and engaging with others all the time in order to contribute positively to society.”
“It is how I relax, escape from reality, avoid my emotions, or feel a sense of control over my situation.”
…and finding practical, kind, realistic ways to address our needs:
“I feel anxious about the state of the world, and feel the need to stay updated all the time.”
Shifting our mindsets:
While there are many things to worry about, and some might feel like things are “getting worse,” the reality is that many global events happening right now things have existed for a while - the issues are just more visible now, with more collective awareness, consciousness, and action (as they should be).
It is impossible for us to stay up-to-date with everything, all the time, and we do not need to be online every second of the day in order to stay updated.
Setting boundaries and limits:
Scheduling a dedicated ‘scroll time’ every day, and use that time wisely, with discipline, to connect with others, receive updates, and take necessary community actions.
Visiting trustworthy and diverse sources of information (e.g. the page of an on-the-ground journalist), rather than scrolling endlessly on our main ‘For You’ pages (as these are often algorithmically designed to keep us on there for as long as possible, which makes us more vulnerable to psychological stress as well as manipulation).
“I feel like I need to be constantly taking in more information and engaging with others all the time in order to contribute positively to society.”
Shifting our mindsets:
We must recognize the limitations of our mortal existence. We can keep working, while releasing ourselves of disproportionate feelings of burden to make seismic change within our lifetimes. Small changes are still changes!
Taking in information, social media activism, and other online activities are not the only ways to contribute positively to society.
Especially now while it is becoming increasingly difficult to discern how we really think and feel, vs. what we consume on the internet, it is essential that we take time, where possible, to disconnect from the algorithm, give ourselves time to recenter ourselves in our personal beliefs, and live in our offline realities.
Setting boundaries and limits:
Tracking our daily/weekly screen time, and determining how much of it is necessary.
Learning digital literacy skills and applying them to our media consumption habits.
Making an active effort to seek different perspectives, online and offline - but also taking time to sit with our personal beliefs every day. Though we can (and should) be sometimes influenced by others’ opinions, we have the right to find grounding in our personal beliefs.
While it is important to listen to the community, we each have the responsibility to know our personal limits, and act upon them.
“It is how I relax, escape from reality, avoid my emotions, or feel a sense of control over my situation.”
Shifting our mindsets:
Scrolling addiction is a very human and valid coping mechanism, and reflective of the times we are living through. It is nevertheless an addiction perpetuated by capitalism, that can hold us back from living in the present, finding joy, feeling our feelings, and experiencing offline connection.
It is easier said than done - but it’s time we started feeling our feelings more. (Doom)scrolling is one way many of us today practice avoidance. While it is valid to need escapism, it is essential that we heal from avoidance in order to refocus our collective consciousness onto our humanity, resisting systems of harm, and rediscovering true connection.
Setting boundaries and limits:
Set an alarm.
Have our peers hold each other accountable to resist excessive (doom)scrolling. It is easier to have discipline when we work towards it together!
Set app limits on our phones.
If we must (doom)scroll once in a while, that is human. Release the shame of it, but make sure to practice care while scrolling, such as by...
...taking deep breaths.
...taking breaks.
...making sure we are not neglecting our collective human needs.
When was the last time you took a drink of water while scrolling? Are you losing sleep or appetite from scrolling?
Life is short - let’s remember to be present however we can, both in our online and offline lives.
#WeAreManushyan ♾️ Equal Human Beings
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