The Rise of “Doomscroller” as a Job Title

Introduction

It sounds almost absurd, right? Getting paid for doing what many consider a guilty pleasure—or worse, a mental health risk. Yet, that’s exactly what’s happening in 2025. The once purely negative act of doomscrolling has been flipped on its head as companies now hire professional “doomscrollers.”

I was fascinated by this shift because it speaks volumes about our digital age. How habits evolve, how new job titles emerge, and how mental health conversations are shaping workplace realities. Join me as I unpack this unique phenomenon and its wide-ranging implications.

What is Doomscrolling?

Doomscrolling, also known as doomsurfing, is the compulsive act of endlessly scrolling through negative news or disturbing content on social media or news sites. Originally coined during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, it describes how feeds filled with crisis, bad news, and anxiety-inducing material keep users hooked despite the toll it takes on mental well-being.

The constant stream of bad news can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, sleep disturbance, and muscle tension, as well as mental health struggles like anxiety and existential dread. It’s no surprise many try to break the habit, but it persists because of underlying psychological triggers like fear of missing out and the infinite scroll design that removes natural stopping points.

From Habit to Job: How Doomscrollers Are Being Hired

Here’s the twist: a Mumbai-based influencer management firm, Monk Entertainment, turned doomscrolling into a professional skill. Viraj Sheth, the company’s CEO, publicly announced a full-time job for doomscrollers who spend at least six hours daily on Instagram and YouTube, tracking trends, viral creators, and the latest buzz in creator culture.

Yes, this job asks for what many do in their downtime but rebrands it as dedicated, valuable trend-spotting work. It’s a new wave in social media-driven careers where deep familiarity with creator culture and platform nuances is critical to marketing, content strategy, and brand collaborations.

The Job Description of a Professional Doomscroller

The role isn’t as simple as mindless scrolling. According to Monk Entertainment’s listings:

• Candidates must provide screenshots proving they spend more than six hours a day on platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
• They should be obsessed with creator culture, knowing all the emerging influencers and viral formats.
• Fluency in English and Hindi is often required.
• Surprisingly, skills like Excel are also needed, indicating the role involves data tracking and analysis beyond just scrolling.

The job perfectly captures the blurred lines between digital addiction and digital expertise—turning what was once a liability into a strategic asset.

Mental Health and Productivity: The Darker Side

While the job opens new doors, doomscrolling carries documented costs to mental health and productivity. Studies indicate doomscrolling correlates with heightened anxiety, depression, cognitive overload, and difficulty focusing on work tasks.

The concept of “popcorn brain” describes the overstimulation from endless content streams, making real-life engagement harder. For workplaces, employees caught in doomscrolling cycles may become distracted or disengaged, reducing overall performance.

These concerns raise questions: how sustainable is this job? Can doomscrollers avoid burnout? Is the industry adequately prioritizing employee well-being?

Anecdotes and Real Reactions

The news about doomscroller hiring triggered mixed reactions across online communities. Some joked about being the perfect fit, while others expressed skepticism or concern about health implications.

I chatted with a digital marketing professional, and they found it unsurprising. “Social media culture evolves fast, and so do job roles. It’s a strange but logical outcome that your scrolling habit becomes your profession,” they said.

Interestingly, Monk Entertainment emphasizes that doomscrolling here isn’t mindless—it’s strategic and requires curiosity, depth of knowledge, and the ability to predict trends—a skill in its own right.

What This Trend Means for the Future of Work

From an outsider’s perspective, doomscrolling as a job title might sound like a novelty. But upon closer look, it signals broader shifts in how work and digital skills intersect. We’re moving into an era where internet experience, pattern recognition in social media, and cultural fluency potentially offer real career capital.

This trend challenges employers to rethink traditional job qualifications and employee productivity metrics. It also underscores the need for new mental health strategies to support employees in screen-heavy roles.

FAQs

Please follow and like us: