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.
FeifeiNow is not the time to be looking at the news – we are presenting a programme.
RobI 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?
FeifeiEnough doomscrolling, Rob!
RobWhat’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…
ExamplesI’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!
FeifeiThis 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.
RobYes – and I think I have one. Look, a kitten that went missing has been found…
FeifeiSweet!
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?
RobJoyscrolling? Happyscrolling?
FeifeiWell, it’s good to see you smiling again.
RobWell we all need something to smile about after the events of this year.
FeifeiI agree. Bye.
RobBye bye.