New Poll Finds 88% of Young People Doomscroll -- and Half Lose More Than an Hour of Sleep a Night

National poll from Hopelab and Data for Progress shows just how much sleep nighttime scrolling costs young people, adding new evidence to the debate over Meta's landmark child safety settlement

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- New national poll data from Hopelab and Data for Progress reveals that doomscrolling — repeatedly viewing an endless stream of negative or upsetting content — is a nearly universal experience among young people. The poll, Informed, Inspired, and Exhausted: Doomscrolling Negative Content and Well-being Among Young People Aged 13-24, finds that 88% of young people ages 13 to 24 engage in doomscrolling, and about half say the habit costs them more than an hour of sleep on the nights they doomscroll. Meta's recent child safety settlement with 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories requires overnight curfews, school-hour notification limits, and daily time caps for teens on Instagram and Facebook, putting a spotlight on how platform design shapes young people's nighttime habits.

"Our data show just how much sleep young people are losing to nighttime scrolling," said Mike Parent, Principal Researcher at Hopelab. "The overnight pause Meta agreed to in the settlement is a real acknowledgment that platform design, not just individual willpower, is part of the problem. But so much of the implementation here still relies on parental controls. We'll see real change on these platforms when young people shape what these products look like from the start."

Doomscrolling is Widespread and Impacting Sleep
Doomscrolling is pervasive: 88% of young people surveyed reported doing so, including 32% who say they doomscroll every day or multiple times a day. Doomscrolling negative or upsetting content is most frequent during free time or before bed, with around two-thirds of young people reporting doing so at these times over the last two weeks. About half of those surveyed say that doomscrolling costs them more than an hour of sleep on the nights they doomscroll, with another 25% losing 30 to 60 minutes, and 18% losing 15 to 30 minutes.

Doomscrolling Takes an Emotional Toll, but Keeps Young People Informed and Motivated to Act
Six in 10 young people say doomscrolling negative or upsetting material makes them feel anxious, mentally exhausted, overwhelmed, angry, or hopeless. Yet 76% say it helps them stay informed about issues — the most commonly reported effect — and 60% say it inspires them to take action, such as advocating, changing their behavior, or donating.

"We're the ones losing sleep to this. We're the ones scrolling past upsetting content late at night," said Abhinav Anne, a college student and mental health policy advocate. "One settlement with one company isn't going to fix that. If this effort is genuinely about protecting young people, we need a seat at the table for what comes next. Real accountability means designing digital spaces with youth safety built in from the start, not as an afterthought."

The report's authors caution against approaches that simply tell young people to disconnect, since many say that consuming information in this way helps them stay informed and feel motivated to act. Instead, they promote alternatives to screen time before bed, such as reading fiction with generally positive themes, to help protect sleep without cutting young people off from information altogether. They also encourage young people to find ways to learn about issues fairly quickly online, without succumbing to the algorithm and scrolling through upsetting content for hours at a time.

Learn More
The full report dives deeper into who doomscrolls most, what types of content young people encounter, and how the effects of doomscrolling vary by age, gender, and LGBTQ+ identity. The brief also provides practical recommendations for young people, families, educators, technology companies, and policymakers.

Read the complete findings at hopelab.org/stories/doomscrolling-national-poll  

About Hopelab
Hopelab envisions a future where young people have equitable opportunities to live joyful and purposeful lives. As a researcher, investor, and convener, Hopelab is dedicated to fostering greater mental health and well-being outcomes for Brown, Black, and Queer young people. Learn more at hopelab.org and follow us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/hopelab.

About Data For Progress
Data for Progress (DFP) is a multidisciplinary group of data experts that measures — and moves — public opinion by equipping the progressive movement with the insights it needs to win. Led by a team of experts, DFP offers high-quality, affordable polling in every corner of the country, message testing and focus groups on complex issues, and in-depth, victory-minded analysis. Learn more at dataforprogress.org. Follow DFP on X at @dataprogress and on Bluesky at @dataforprogress.org

SOURCE Hopelab