Doom scrolling and children during school holidays
Doom scrolling has become a modern parenting challenge, especially during school holidays when routines relax and screens quietly fill empty hours. Many parents associate doom scrolling with adults endlessly scrolling through upsetting news stories on their phones. Yet children and teenagers now experience their own version of the same behaviour through social media, video shorts, gaming content and recommendation algorithms.
School holidays often create the perfect conditions for it. Days feel less structured. Bedtimes shift. Parents juggle work and family responsibilities. Children naturally seek entertainment and connection. A few minutes of screen time can quickly turn into an hour, then two, then an afternoon disappearing into a feed that never reaches an end.
For families with children from PreKinder to Year 12, understanding what doom scrolling is and why it affects developing minds matters more than ever.
What is doom scrolling?
Doom scrolling describes the habit of continuously consuming online content for long periods, often without real purpose or stopping points. Adults often associate it with worrying news stories. For children, however, the content can look very different.
A primary school student may move from funny videos to gaming clips and then to content designed to keep attention through constant stimulation. A teenager might cycle through social media posts, influencer videos, commentary channels and algorithm-driven recommendations.
The problem is not always the content itself. The issue lies in the design.
Many platforms remove natural stopping cues. Television programs once ended and books reached a final page. Online feeds rarely do. The next video begins automatically. Another recommendation appears instantly. Children receive tiny bursts of novelty and reward that encourage them to keep going.
Australian research from the eSafety Commissioner found that 84 per cent of Australian children aged 8–12 had used social media or messaging services in 2024, despite minimum age requirements already being in place. Australia’s social media age restrictions are an important step towards creating a safer online environment for young people. However, many children still find ways to access social media before they turn 16, whether by using incorrect birth dates, accessing family or friends’ accounts, or viewing content shared across other digital platforms.
As a result, parents cannot rely on age restrictions alone to protect their children online. Conversations about healthy digital habits, critical thinking and responsible technology use remain just as important. While legislation can help reduce access, it cannot replace the guidance children receive at home.
Why school holidays can amplify the problem
Holiday periods change family rhythms. During school terms, children experience built-in structure. They attend classes, move between activities, socialise with peers and follow predictable routines.
School holidays create larger blocks of unplanned time. That freedom can be wonderful, as children need downtime, to rest and recharge. Yet unstructured time also creates a digital vacuum.
Parents may still work during holiday periods. Older siblings often model device use for younger children. Weather can keep families indoors. Screens become convenient babysitters without anyone intending them to be.
What begins as a short break can gradually become the centrepiece of a child’s day.
Australian data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children found screen use steadily increased as children grew older, with some children spending up to 30 per cent of their waking hours using screens.
The concern extends beyond simply counting hours. Two hours spent designing a game, creating digital artwork or video chatting with grandparents differs greatly from two hours spent rapidly consuming endless short-form content. Quality matters as much as quantity.
What doom scrolling does to developing minds
Children’s brains continue developing well into adolescence. Their ability to regulate emotions, focus attention and manage impulses evolves over many years. Constant digital stimulation can interfere with these processes in subtle ways.
Attention becomes one area of concern. Short videos and rapidly changing content train the brain to expect frequent rewards and constant novelty. Homework, reading and slower activities may then feel less engaging.
Sleep can also suffer. Children frequently use devices later into the evening during holidays. Endless scrolling creates a “just one more” effect that pushes bedtimes further back. Reduced sleep affects emotional regulation, concentration and learning.
Mood changes can become harder for parents to recognise. Children who spend large amounts of time consuming online content sometimes appear irritable, restless or emotionally flat when they disconnect. Parents may interpret this as boredom or poor behaviour when the issue actually relates to overstimulation.
Australian eSafety research found seven in ten children had encountered harmful online content, including violent material, dangerous challenges and other distressing content. Children do not need to actively search for this material. Algorithms often deliver it unexpectedly.
The signs parents may overlook
Most parents watch for obvious red flags such as arguments over screen time. Less obvious changes can appear first.
A child who once enjoyed drawing may lose interest. A teenager may stop participating in activities they previously loved. Family conversations become shorter. Holidays begin feeling strangely disconnected despite everyone being at home together.
Children can also experience what psychologists call “attention residue”. Part of their mind remains attached to digital stimulation even after the device disappears.
Parents sometimes notice this during simple activities. Children struggle through board games. Reading feels difficult. Family outings seem less exciting than expected.
This does not mean technology itself is harmful. Digital tools offer creativity, education and connection. Problems emerge when passive consumption quietly replaces other experiences.
What parents can do without starting battles
Strict bans rarely solve long-term problems. Children often respond better when families create healthy digital habits together.
Change the routine
Small changes often produce stronger results than dramatic rules:
- Create screen-free moments rather than screen-free lives
- Keep devices out of bedrooms overnight
- Plan holiday activities before boredom arrives
- Encourage movement and face-to-face social time
- Talk openly about how apps are designed to keep users engaged.
Model behaviours
Children respond strongly to what they see.
Parents who check phones throughout dinner may unintentionally teach the same behaviour they hope to prevent.
Find enticing alternatives
Families also benefit from replacing screen time rather than simply removing it. Children rarely enjoy hearing, “Get off your device.” They respond better to alternatives that feel interesting and meaningful.
A backyard cricket match, cooking together, visiting local parks or giving older children responsibility for planning family activities can create natural competition for screens.
Growing healthy digital habits for life
Doom scrolling is not simply a technology issue. It is increasingly a wellbeing issue.
Children need opportunities to feel bored, curious and present. Those quieter moments help build imagination, resilience and independence. School holidays can provide exactly that space when families use them intentionally.
At All Saints Grammar, we understand that raising children in a digital world requires balance. As a co-educational school from PreKinder to Year 12, we value both technology and human connection. Young people need academic opportunities, but they also need relationships, creativity, movement and experiences beyond a screen. Supporting children to develop healthy habits today helps prepare them for a confident and connected future.
To learn more about how we are shaping bright minds, kind hearts and bold spirits join us for a small group tour and see our campus in action.
