A new social media trend called “bloomscrolling” is gaining attention as a proposed alternative to the widely discussed practice of doomscrolling. The concept encourages users to intentionally curate their feeds with positive, uplifting, and educational content in an effort to improve their emotional well-being while online.

Licensed mental health counselor Sreela Roy-Greene, a therapist at BetterHelp, explained that bloomscrolling involves engaging with content that fosters feelings of awe, gratitude, and connection. This practice can help calm the nervous system and broaden perspectives, making it easier for individuals to manage stress and think more flexibly. She emphasized that for younger users, seeing examples of hope and resilience may counteract the often negative messages about the world’s state and the futility of individual action.

Catherine Johnson, 29, began practicing bloomscrolling after realizing her social media use made her feel drained rather than refreshed. She adopted a more selective approach, choosing to follow accounts that feature natural landscapes and creators specializing in writing and art. This shift reflects a broader movement among some young people who seek a more deliberate relationship with social media—opting to remain engaged but with greater mindfulness.

In contrast to strategies focused on limiting screen time or deleting apps, Roy-Greene noted that many young people are deeply connected to their devices for social interaction, education, and identity formation. Bloomscrolling reframes the issue by focusing less on the quantity of time spent scrolling and more on the quality of content consumed, stressing the user’s ability to shape their digital environment.

Johnson, a mother of four, aims to model intentional social media habits for her family by avoiding phone use during mornings and before bedtime. She acknowledges that while she has considered deleting social media apps, she prefers to practice bloomscrolling as a way to access helpful information without feeling overwhelmed.

Experts attribute the tendency to doomscroll partly to evolutionary factors. The human brain is wired to prioritize attention to threats, a trait that once aided survival but now contributes to persistent engagement with negative news online. Roy-Greene described how this bias, combined with algorithmic reinforcement, can trigger a prolonged stress response, leading to anxiety, irritability, and impaired focus.

Data from the Pew Research Center in 2024 shows that nearly half of teenagers report being online constantly, with 72% indicating they frequently check notifications immediately upon waking. This demographic is particularly vulnerable to the effects of compulsive social media use, as brain regions involved in impulse control and emotional regulation continue developing into the mid-20s.

To cultivate bloomscrolling habits, Roy-Greene recommends that users pause after scrolling to assess how the experience made them feel—calm, energized, or drained. Users are encouraged to follow accounts that inspire, educate, or entertain, while unfollowing those that induce negative emotions. Making this practice part of morning and evening routines can strengthen its benefits, and any inspiration found through bloomscrolling can be extended into offline activities, such as sharing content with friends or trying new hobbies.

However, Roy-Greene cautions that bloomscrolling is not a comprehensive solution for mental health and should not replace essential elements like sleep, physical activity, or in-person relationships. Instead, it offers a way to maximize the positive potential of time already spent online.