Scrolling headlines is a full‑time job for today’s teens. A UNICEF‑led study recently surveyed more than 5,600 people aged 14–25 and found that young people consume more news than any other content. Sixty percent said they feel overwhelmed by the constant barrage of information. They’re trying to keep up with the world, but the flood of geopolitical conflict, climate crises, and economic uncertainty is taking a toll. As parents, we see it in our kids’ eyes when another breaking news alert pops up on the home screen — excitement melts into anxiety before we’ve even finished dinner.

It’s not just the volume of headlines but the way they’re delivered. About 43 percent of Gen Z rely on social media for their daily news, with platforms like TikTok leading the charge. That means the news they’re consuming is packaged in flashy short clips designed to provoke an emotional response. Experts say this drip‑feed of doomscrolling can isolate young people from real‑life interactions and heighten negative emotions. They never get the full story, just a headline or a 15‑second reel that seldom provides context. It’s like forcing someone to eat only the frosting off the cake and then wondering why they feel sick.

Here’s the kicker: 67 percent of teens said they feel overwhelmed after exposure to world events — more than news about their own country or community. They worry about wars in places they’ve never been, natural disasters they can’t control, and political fights they barely understand. For many, this constant storm of challenges feels deeply personal, affecting their bodies, their minds, and their sense of hope. A UAE‑based psychologist noted that endless scrolling hinders the development of essential social skills and encourages negative emotional patterns. And because so much of this news is consumed online, our kids are exposed to misinformation and propaganda, yet their brains haven’t fully developed the rational decision‑making abilities needed to separate fact from fiction.

So what can we do? Start by talking openly about how the news makes them feel. Ask which stories keep them up at night and validate that feeling of overwhelm. Then establish boundaries. In our house, we created “no‑news zones” — we don’t watch or discuss breaking news at dinner or before bedtime. Encourage your teens to diversify their information diet. Teach them to read full articles instead of stopping at click‑bait headlines, and show them how to check sources. Remind them that it’s okay to unplug. Going for a walk or cooking a meal together does more for their mental health than another hour on social media.

Most importantly, reassure them that while they can’t fix every global crisis, they can control how they react. Help them find actionable ways to make a difference in their community so the constant stream of bad news doesn’t erode their sense of agency. When we empower our kids to question, discern, and step away from the noise, we’re giving them tools to protect their well‑being — and ours.

Sources: Arab News, UNICEF study, comments from clinical psychologists.