Hope in a world of doomscrolling

In 2024, the Pew Research Center surveyed U.S. teens ages 13-17 and found that nearly half admitted to being online “almost constantly.” A 2025 Pew study revealed that roughly 1 in 5 American teens “say they are on TikTok and YouTube almost constantly. At the same time, 64% of teens say they use chatbots, including about 3 in 10 who do so daily.”

These findings, among others, along with the culture adopting a new vocabulary specifically related to the use of technology, signal that screens and their impact on people are characteristic of modern life. (See sidebar at left.)

“In the smartphone age, every open moment – from when we wake up to when we go to bed – is filled with a screen,” said author Brett McCracken. “That means our phones get more of our attention and eventually more of our hearts. Where our attention goes, our desires go. Before long, the device can function like an idol, taking the place of God in sheer time and devotion.”

McCracken is also a senior editor and director of communications for The Gospel Coalition (thegospelcoalition.org). He coedited the 2025 book Scrolling Ourselves to Death, a collection of essays written by leading Christian thinkers who examine how technology impacts and shapes spiritual living. (See sidebar on p.23.)

In a conversation with The Stand, McCracken discussed some dangers of technological dependence and how the overuse of technology can be redeemed through a gospel perspective.

Scrolling away from real connection

“Put your phone face down” is a commonly heard piece of advice for dates, family dinners, or any other social interaction. It is intended to signal undivided attention and a willingness to connect without the distractions of buzzing notifications and screens that flicker invitingly from black to bright.

McCracken warned that screens don’t just turn a person’s attention from the real-life relationships in front of them. They also warp the expectation of online or remote relationships. These virtual relationships, as they appear on social media, blur the boundary between a genuine community and an audience.

“God created us as embodied beings, not just minds or avatars,” he said. “Online, it’s easy to live as a curated version of ourselves – what we want people to see. That can feed a kind of digital gnosticism – a separation between who I am online and who I am in the flesh.”

This disconnection, he argued, erodes accountability.

“In a real community, people see the full picture of your life. They can celebrate you, challenge you, and correct you. Online, relationships have a limited view.”

While online friendships aren’t inherently unhealthy and can be honest and meaningful, especially for people separated by long distances, they cannot replace the embodied, in-person experience.

“The most impactful relationships in my life,” McCracken said, “are with people who see me in three dimensions.”

Gaining information, not wisdom

The smartphone has given humanity an unprecedented ability to access nearly any information in a few seconds. But McCracken argued that the growth in access to information has not been matched by a growth in wisdom.

He identified three ways that this data overload works against wisdom. First, excess: The sheer volume of information overwhelms a person’s ability to discern what is true. Second, speed: Users have very little time to form a coherent opinion, little more than a knee-jerk reaction, before the next outrageous news item scrolls onto their screen. And third, orientation: What one person sees on their screen is different than what a neighbor sees. Their stream of information is tailored to them by an algorithm.

“The algorithm does not present an accurate view of the world. It creates a personalized version of reality for everyone, and that’s not healthy for wisdom,” McCracken asserted. “Real wisdom grows in community, where people can challenge you and speak truth to you. Algorithms only tell you what you already want to hear, based on the news or information you habitually respond to.”

This algorithmic worldview, he suggested, results in a society of hyper-informed individuals who have not developed the ability to distinguish between knowing something and understanding it. The algorithms are designed to keep users engaged, scrolling, and commenting – reactive, not reflective.

Spreading an unhealthy agenda

Beyond stunted growth in wisdom, this endless rush of information also has a profound impact on health. A growing number of experts have begun to connect the dots between heavy media consumption and deteriorating mental wellness. A study published in Health Communication surveyed more than a thousand participants and found that among those who admitted their news habits were “severely problematic,” nearly 17% reported higher stress levels and declining physical well-being.

These numbers reflect a grim view of reality. Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the online world has seen a dark parade of global unrest: the war in Ukraine, the attack on Israel by Hamas, the assassination of a health insurance CEO, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, repeated school shootings, riots, and political violence – all without pause or resolution, and carefully curated by an algorithm designed to keep users scrolling.

Speaking timeless words

Yet, in a world of doomscrolling, McCracken is hopeful about the impact of the gospel.

“Gen Z and Gen Alpha are growing up as the first truly digital native generations, and many are realizing that it hasn’t produced health – physically, emotionally, or spiritually,” he said. “That creates an opportunity for the church. Secular culture can diagnose the problem, but it can only go so far in offering an alternative.”

He believes Christians and churches are well-positioned to respond to the younger generation’s desire for authentic connection and meaningful living. He firmly believes that the message of Jesus Christ offers more than the hollow experiences of life through a screen.

“Online culture moves so fast that people forget what happened two weeks ago,” he said. “Everything feels disposable. Christianity invites people into a story that is ancient, grounded, and enduring. In a world of constant change, it offers solid ground.”