Digital Dissociation and Doomscrolling in Gen Z: Psychological Impacts and Research Directions

Abstract

Doomscrolling and compulsive smartphone use have become everyday habits for many college students in Generation Z. Although these behaviors are often dismissed as simply spending too much time online, this paper argues that the effects may go deeper, reflecting a form of digital dissociation. Drawing on existing research from psychology, media studies, and behavioral science, the review suggests that excessive exposure to distressing online content can contribute to emotional detachment, attentional fatigue, and a gradual weakening of identity clarity. Unlike most studies that focus on screen time or habit formation, this paper frames doomscrolling as a process with clinical relevance, connecting it to early signs of dissociative experiences such as time distortion, cognitive fog, and disrupted self-awareness. By pulling together different strands of evidence, the paper highlights important gaps in current literature, especially the lack of clinical models and longitudinal research. It concludes by proposing future directions, including ecological assessments, experimental work, and targeted interventions, to better understand how digital habits shape the emotional and cognitive lives of young adults.