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BBC Business1 min read192 words
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BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman has suggested that the era of relentless doomscrolling could be coming to an end. In a recent piece for the BBC, Kleinman argues that a combination of shifting user habits, platform‑level changes, and growing awareness of mental‑health impacts is reducing the amount of time people spend scrolling through negative news feeds.

Kleinman cites data from a 2025 survey of 5,000 social‑media users that found a 23 % drop in daily exposure to distressing content compared with 2023. She notes that major platforms have introduced “well‑being” features such as content‑capping alerts, algorithmic prioritisation of positive stories, and the removal of certain sensationalist news categories. The article also references a study by the Institute for Digital Well‑Being that links these changes to a measurable decline in anxiety scores among frequent users.

While Kleinman acknowledges that the habit is not yet eradicated, she concludes that the convergence of platform policy, user‑driven content preferences, and heightened public discourse on digital wellness signals a significant shift. The trend may herald a broader move toward more mindful consumption of online information, with potential benefits for individual mental health and the broader media ecosystem.

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