Nuffield Health’s 2024 ‘Healthier Nation Index’ – a survey of 8,000 UK adults has highlighted how the young workforce is more social media obsessed, participating in unhealthy habits such as doomscrolling, than ever before.
The study revealed that social media use has increased for Gen-Z, with 16-24-year-olds spending over two hours a day on social media apps like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook per day (128.5 minutes), which is a 7 percent increase and nearly ten minutes more a day than they were last year (119.48 minutes).* This is four times the daily recommended amount for improved wellbeing.
The term doomscrolling was coined during the pandemic to describe the action of constantly scrolling through and reading depressing news on a news site or social media, especially on phones.
And with the majority of Brits admitting to looking at their phone within an hour of going to bed, it’s hardly surprising many have struggled with sleep and their physical and mental health.
Nearly a quarter said screen time before bed is the third biggest barrier to sleep, while 44.44 percent of young people said social media has negatively impacted their physical and mental health in the last 12 months.
Chronic sleep disruptions might generate negative thinking and emotional sensitivity, with research suggesting poor sleep makes us twice as responsive to stress.
In the workplace, this could mean that if faced with stressful situations, employees are more likely to overreact, and if this stress carries over into home life, it could exacerbate sleep issues – resulting in more serious mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, which can increase workplace absence and affect productivity.
Lisa Gunn, Mental Health Prevention Lead at Nuffield Health, offers advice on how employers can tackle the doomscrolling issue in the workplace…
#1 Recognise unhealthy habits
Modern employers should be aware of young employees who may be presenting an unhealthy relationship or addiction to social media. Some signs can include someone who constantly uses their phone to procrastinate, checks notifications throughout the day, constantly monitors likes and shares, only communicates with others via social media and someone who regularly takes photos or sends voice notes at work.
#2 Establish workplace policies
While corporate policies are generally put in place to govern and protect the interests of the company and maintain brand reputation, they can also be used to monitor employee performance and productivity, particularly amongst vulnerable groups.
This can include guidelines surrounding social media use during work hours, such as when it is prohibited. Such restrictions should be written into employment contracts, and employees should be made aware of them from the get-go and enforced throughout the workplace.
#3 Encourage lifestyle changes outside of work too
The modern workplace often encourages employees to stay connected with clients, colleagues and the wider world via social media apps. But employers should consider whether that push for connectivity is resorting to an ‘always on’ approach that can often lead to doomscrolling and, ultimately, burnout.
Some ways to resolve this issue may be to provide employees with a set amount of time to make work-related connections during work hours to remove this desire. Alternatively, promoting activities encouraging them to put their phones away, such as physical activity or meditation workshops, will get employees off their phones, boost wellbeing and promote healthy sleep hormones.
#4 Promote workplace support
Where signs of emotional difficulty are identified, employers should signpost individuals towards the relevant emotional wellbeing support available. It’s important to note that stress from outside the world of work – like negative news consumed via social media -can negatively impact sleep and overall wellbeing.
Businesses should provide wellbeing support through external services like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs).
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
