Add Some Cuteness To Your Social Media Feeds With These Pet Influencers

What does "doom scrolling" mean?

"Doom scrolling" is exactly what it sounds like — an incessant amount of staring at social media feeds. From Dr. Lee's perspective, it's "when we continuously and compulsively scroll through negative news or distressing content on social media or news sites." The worst part is that she says "we often continue to do so even when it makes us feel progressively worse over time!" It's almost like we're in a toxic relationship with it 👀.

Also, the news is much more accessible than it used to be. I vividly remember my grandmother being glued to the morning and evening reports growing up, but now we don't have to look far for a breakdown of what's going on. Because of this, Dr. Lee believes "breaking ourselves out of this cycle is especially difficult because much of the news today is presented in a way that keeps us 'hooked.'" How?

Why are more people talking about it?

Based on her observations, Dr. Lee feels "social media algorithms often prioritize content that is engaging and gets reactions (often fear-based)." If you've ever used the word "rage-bait" in a conversation then you're already familiar with what she means. As a result, this "makes it easy to get stuck in a loop of distressing information," according to her. "In fact, with world issues such as climate concerns and political polarization, there seems to be an endless stream of negative news," she adds.

As much as I haven't wanted to talk about them, it's hard to escape concerns and opinions related to topics such as politics, reproductive health, or celebrity PR disasters. They have a way of showing up in conversations because almost everyone I know has access to a smart phone, where news is readily available at our fingertips.

What are negative side effects of being on social media or news sites 24/7?

If you've been feeling on edge or skittish lately, Dr. Lee wants you to know there's a connection between them and doom scrolling. "There are plenty of negative consequences of doom-scrolling. It can increase our feelings of stress and anxiety, lead to feelings of depression and hopelessness, disturb our sleep (if doom-scrolling late at night), and eat up our time during the day when we’re trying to be productive and engage in positive life activities," she says.

However, some good has come out of an increased awareness about doom scrolling. According to Dr. Lee, "we are becoming more aware of the effects of screen time, especially doom scrolling, our our mental health." I didn't know it at the time, but going into my phone settings to create boundaries for myself was the right thing to do!

How can I curb this habit?

If you're ready to stop being so attached to your phone, Dr. Lee has a few tips to help you make this necessary change.

1. Create screen limits: "Set time limits on how much news you consume. I like to keep it around 30 minutes a day of news exposure."
2. Review your notifications: "Remove news notifications from your phone to remove the constant barrage of 'breaking news' so that YOU can decide when to check in."
   
3. Try listening to a podcast: "Subscribe to a news podcast such as The Daily or NPR News Now. Podcasts automatically have a time limit and often discuss the most pressing news of the day. PLUS, you can listen while doing something stress-relieving, such as working out."

How can I tell if I'm doom scrolling or casually looking at social media?

It can be confusing when you're not sure if you're casually scrolling on social media, or succumbing to doom and gloom. But Dr. Lee doesn't want you to stress yourself out even further! Here's how she says you can tell which one you're doing:

1. Stay curious: "Pay attention to your mood during and after scrolling. Are you feeling anxious, drained, or exhausted? Do you keep scrolling bad news and struggle to stop even though it makes you feel progressively worse? These are signs that you are doom-scrolling."
2. Pay attention to content you're consuming: "On the other hand, if you are engaging with a variety of content (not just bad news) that makes you feel informed, entertained, or inspired, you are likely just casually scrolling. Casually scrolling often feels easier to stop than doom-scrolling."

1. Scooter

"Scooter because when they got him, he would drag his [behind] on rugs because he had worms," one user revealed.

2. Cat

"I've never been fond of highly normal-named dogs (David, Katie, Tom, Sarah, etc). But then there are also people like my [derpy] old roommate who, for some special reason, named his dog Cat," another user said.

3. Hashtag

"My sister-in-law named her dog Hashtag. Not even kidding. She thought it was trendy and unique," shared a user.

4. Joachim (Multiple Times)

"My husband's family likes to get the same types of dogs and give that dog the same name as the dog before it. They've had generations of Shih Tzus named Joachim starting in, like, the 1950s, and there was also a series of Portugues water dog duos all named the same thing," one user explained.

5. Kaiser Koenig der Schnitzel Fritz

"I adopted a dachshund from a lady who was getting divorced and was going to submit him. His name was Kaiser Koenig der Schnitzel Fritz... We just called him Fritz," recalled another user.

6. Dave

"A colleague called her dog Dave. When I started at the job, I couldn't figure out who the [heck] she was talking about when she 'took Dave for a walk.' I was too scared to ask who Dave was," detailed a user.

7. Girl & Boy (But In Reverse)

"There was this old lady that would take her two chihuahuas to the dog park. I'd also see them occasionally on walks around the neighborhood. They were both white and looked very similar," one user remembered.

"The male dog was named Girl, and the female dog was named Boy. They were nasty little dogs. Girl peed on my shoes once, too."

8. Chair

"I once heard someone name their dog Chair. The poor pup must have been so confused," added a user.

9. Aye

"My brother named his dog Aye because he wouldn't respond to anything else except 'Aye!' Come to find out, the former owners were Haitian, and the dog understood more Creole than English," a user said.

"They still got the dog. He's 15 years old, and my brother's family has learned some Creole phrases for him. He understands English now, but his name still remains Aye."

10. Joshua

"My dad never had a son to name him Joshua, so he named our dog Joshua," joked a final user.

The company launched in a small Mississippi town in 2014 and is owned by siblings Retta Abraham and Menna Samaha. It's since become "one of the largest, cleanest Amazon-born skincare brands."

"LilyAna Naturals is proud to be a brand that operates from a place of goodness and love, centered on family and community, right down to the brand name – LilyAna. Lily and Ana Belle are the beautiful daughters of the husband and wife, who share the role of the Directors of Manufacturing Operations," the brand's website reads.

Some of their best sellers include anti-aging eye cream, retinol cream, charcoal face scrub, dark spot corrector, and multiple regimen kits. However, the latest product to take the internet by storm is the LilyAna Naturals Sea Moss Face Lift Cream.

Offered in 1-ounce or 1.7-ounce bottles, the formula is "enriched" with Bakuchiol, Sea Moss, Hyaluronic Acid, and Peptide Complex. Bakuchiol is a gentle and plant-based retinol alternative known for its ability to quicken skin turnover, enhance firmness, and even out skin tone. Meanwhile, Hyaluronic Acid and Sea Moss provide deep hydration for plumper-looking skin. Finally, the peptide complex helps boost skin elasticity for a smoother, more youthful appearance.

"Our face-lifting cream is made with natural and plant-derived ingredients, free from harsh chemicals, parabens, and sulfates. Experience visibly smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin with regular use," says the product's description.

If that sounds too good to be true, all you have to do is take a look at what shoppers are saying about the Sea Moss Face Lift Cream. It has over 13,000 reviews on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.3 stars.

"I have tried a lot of moisturizers, from drug store brands to high-end, expensive anti-aging moisturizers, and for me, LilyAna is the only brand that delivers results, doesn't irritate my skin, and doesn't totally empty my wallet. I'm so happy to have found this brand! The face cream glides on smoothly and absorbs within a few short minutes. It is not greasy at all and my makeup sits on top of it beautifully. No strong odors or anything else negative I can think of!" one reviewer shared.

"High-end product with a drug store price tag! Customer service is bar none. This will forever be my go-to skincare company," seconded another.

"I searched for an inexpensive alternative to the high-end creams I was using. This was it, and I'm 100% hooked! I actually like it better than my expensive stuff," agreed a third.

Now, if you're sold on the LilyAna Naturals Sea Moss Face Lift Cream and plan to get your hands on it, it's recommended that you apply it evenly across your face, neck, and décolletage twice a day after cleanser and serum.