Summary
Rob’s addicted at looking at all the depressing news on his social media feed. This obsessive action now has a name and Feifei is about to break the news to Rob that he’s doing it! Find out more in The English We Speak.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei… err Rob, could we have your attention please?
Rob
… oh sorry, Feifei, I was just looking at the news on my smartphone.
Feifei
Now is not the time to be looking at the news – we are presenting a programme.
Rob
I know, but there’s so much news to look at and it’s all very very…
Feifei
…depressing? Yes, there has been a lot of depressing news recently, but you seem addicted to it.
Rob
Look at this! Did you know we are all going to die… some day?
Feifei
Enough doomscrolling, Rob!
Rob
What’s that?
Feifei
‘Doomscrolling’ describes continuously scrolling through endless bad news stories on your smartphone app, on social media or on the internet. It happens a lot during the coronavirus pandemic. And you’re obsessed, Rob – you just can’t stop reading information that depresses you.
Rob
OK, OK – I’ll try to find some more positive news while we hear some examples…
Examples
I’ve been doomscrolling too much and read so much information about coronavirus that I can’t sleep at night.
Stop doomscrolling! If you read too much bad news you’ll get depressed.
My brother does too much doomsurfing – he loves to tell us the latest gloom and doom in the world, so we’ve stopped listening to him!
*********
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about doomscrolling – also called doomsurfing. That’s endlessly looking at depressing news stories on your smartphone app, on social media or the internet. I think it’s time we had some good news stories, Rob.
Rob
Yes – and I think I have one. Look, a kitten that went missing has been found…
Feifei
Sweet!
Rob
… and look at this – new research says biscuits don’t make you fat… and this story…
Feifei
OK, Rob. Is there a word for endlessly looking at good news stories?
Rob
Joyscrolling? Happyscrolling?
Feifei
Well, it’s good to see you smiling again.
Rob
Well we all need something to smile about after the events of this year.
Feifei
I agree. Bye.
Rob
Bye bye.