In an age where most of us experience constant bad news right in the palm of our hands, it’s no surprise we’re overwhelmed with the state of the world. Whether mindlessly scrolling, constantly checking our phones or even consuming a large amount of news content, our habits can reinforce negative thoughts and feelings about the world around us.
For many, this kind of social media usage, most often referred to as “doomscrolling,” can cause anxious feelings about many topics, including climate change.
This anxious feeling is called climate anxiety, climate doom or eco-anxiety and can be defined as a state of anxiety or overwhelming worry about the state of the planet, as described by Yale Sustainability. It often has both physiological and behavioral components and might be more prevalent than we think.
In 2021, 69% of Gen Z social media users said they felt anxious about the future when they most recently saw content addressing climate change, according to the Pew Research Center.
Further, the University of Oregon found in 2024 those who consume more climate change-related news hold more feelings of eco-anxiety, or climate doom. For many, there is a fine line between being informed and maybe being too informed, or allowing social media and other sources of constant news about climate change and natural disasters to impact our everyday lives.
All of this isn’t to say we should completely unplug from news about the world and climate change altogether, but we can switch our approach to maximize our impact and limit burnout.
Especially in Florida, we live through natural disasters of increasing strength every year, and we take a front seat to the damage these disasters can do on our families, friends and homes.
As American singer and activist Joan Baez said, “Action is the antidote to despair.”
These emotions, although overwhelming, can be mitigated. Finding a place to express your feelings about the climate and the overwhelming sense of dread you might feel when you read yet another infographic about carbon emissions can be a great first step to alleviate climate doom.
Climate Cafe GNV, a more recent addition to the Gainesville community, hosts both virtual and in-person events where community members can discuss their thoughts and feelings about the changing climate with others. In addition to these facilitated conversations, the café also provides resources for support such as a climate-aware therapist directory and opportunities for political action in the area and online.
Even though you may choose to mitigate climate anxiety by limiting social media usage overall, making intentional choices about the content you consume is also a great option. There are creators who prioritize positivity and tangible solutions to making environmental change.
Some of these creators include: @relauren on Instagram and TikTok, who promotes DIY projects, lifestyle changes and political actions for sustainability; and @jess.cliftonn on Instagram and TikTok, who makes lifestyle content with a sustainable twist. These two creators, among others, provide personable and pragmatic actions that aren’t overwhelming, while still making systemic changes a priority.
Gracie Adams is a UF environmental science freshman.
