I Switched from Facebook to Reddit for Doomscrolling. Here's What Happened.

I have a confession: I'm a doomscroller. Have been for as long as social media has been available. My God, since Myspace.

But for years, Facebook was my poison of choice. Every spare second I had. Waiting in line, sitting on the couch, lying in bed trying to sleep, scroll scroll scroll. And scroll. And scroll.

It felt good in the moment. That little dopamine hit every few seconds. A funny video here, an outrage post there. My brain loved it.

The thing is, I was never satisfied. I'd put the phone down feeling empty. Sometimes worse than before I picked it up. Facebook gave me nothing back. Just time gone and a vague sense of irritation.

So I decided to find something else.

The Bottom Line

I replaced my Facebook doomscrolling habit with Reddit, and six months later, I don't miss Facebook at all. I'm still on my phone too much—that didn't change. But instead of empty dopamine hits and vague irritation, I'm actually learning things. Real people sharing real solutions to problems I've had. It's not perfect, but it's scrolling that gives something back.

The Search for a Better Scroll

I didn't want to make the switch. Facebook was familiar. Comfortable. The algorithm knew exactly what I liked. Starting over somewhere else felt like work.

I tried Instagram first. It was prettier, sure. But essentially the same experience. Scroll, double-tap, scroll, double-tap. Empty calories. Synthetic, processed food. Zero nutritional value.

Then I tried TikTok. Big mistake. TikTok had perfected what Facebook was trying to do. The dopamine hits came faster and harder. I'd look up and an hour had vanished. It was Facebook on steroids. I deleted it within a week.

Eventually, I landed on Reddit.

Why Reddit Actually Works for Me

It's still doomscrolling, and I'm still on my phone too often, but I'm finally consuming something more than empty calories.

When I scroll Reddit, I actually learn things. Real people sharing real experiences on subjects I care about. Someone asks a question I've had for years - and dozens of people who've faced that same problem share what worked for them.

I was stuck on a coding problem for hours. Found a thread where someone had the exact same issue, and a bunch developers had already argued about and decided the best resolution.

I wanted to do my own brake job to save money. Found a thread where backyard mechanics, working on the same model & year car, shared every mistake they made so I didn't have to make them myself.

I learned that chances are good that someone's been there done that, and documented their solutions.

It's still scrolling. But it's scrolling that leaves me with something.

Six Months Clean from Facebook

It's been six months since I've opened Facebook, except for some minor station-keeping visits to keep up with family, I don't miss it much.

When I finally found the strength to commit and make the switch, I took back my free time. I've been much happier since, and I look back on my years of Facebook scrolling like an addict that's in recovery, sad that it happened, but thrilled that it's over.

My doomscrolling habit didn't go away. I just redirected it somewhere that gives me something back. Is it perfect? No. I'd no doubt be better off reading books or going for a walk.

But I'm realistic. I know myself. I'm going to scroll regardless. At least now when I put the phone down, I sometimes feel like I learned something. That's more than Facebook ever gave me.

If you're like me and you're stuck in the Facebook doomscrolling cycle, you don't have to necessarily quit cold turkey. Maybe just switch to something that respects your time a bit more.

Reddit worked for me. It might work for you too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop doomscrolling on Facebook?

You probably won't stop doomscrolling entirely—the habit is deeply ingrained. What worked for me was redirecting it somewhere better. I switched to Reddit, where I still scroll, but I actually learn things instead of just consuming outrage and empty content. The key is finding a substitute that scratches the same itch but leaves you feeling better when you put the phone down.

Is Reddit better than Facebook?

For me, yes. Facebook's algorithm feeds you engagement bait—stuff designed to make you angry or keep you watching. Reddit is organized around topics and communities, so you control what you see. When I scroll Reddit, I find real people sharing experiences, solving problems, and answering questions I've actually had. It's still social media, but it feels less like junk food.

What is doomscrolling?

Doomscrolling is the habit of endlessly scrolling through social media or news feeds, often consuming negative or emotionally charged content. It provides small dopamine hits that keep you engaged, but usually leaves you feeling empty, anxious, or irritated afterward. The term became popular during 2020, but the behavior has existed since smartphones made social media always accessible.

Why is Facebook so addictive?

Facebook's algorithm is designed to maximize engagement, which means showing you content that triggers strong emotional reactions—outrage, fear, nostalgia, validation. Each post gives you a small dopamine hit, training your brain to keep scrolling for the next one. The app also uses infinite scroll, autoplay videos, and notifications to keep you coming back. It's engineered to be hard to put down.

Is TikTok worse than Facebook for doomscrolling?

In my experience, yes. TikTok perfected what Facebook was trying to do—the dopamine hits come faster and harder. The algorithm learns your preferences almost instantly and serves an endless stream of perfectly targeted short videos. I deleted it within a week because I'd lose hours without realizing it. If you're trying to break a scrolling habit, TikTok is probably the worst place to redirect it.

How do I use Reddit without getting addicted?

Curate your subscriptions carefully. Unsubscribe from default subreddits and join communities around specific interests—hobbies, skills, questions you want answered. Avoid rage-bait and drama-focused subreddits. Reddit can be just as addictive as Facebook if you let the algorithm take over, but if you're intentional about what you follow, it becomes more like a library than a slot machine.

What's a healthier alternative to social media?

Reading books, going for walks, picking up a hobby—all better than any social media. But I'm realistic about my habits. If you're going to scroll anyway, pick something that gives you value. Reddit communities around your interests, YouTube educational content, or even Wikipedia rabbit holes are all better than algorithmically-served outrage content.

How long does it take to break a Facebook habit?

For me, the first week was the hardest. I'd instinctively open Facebook without thinking. Having Reddit as a replacement helped—when I caught myself reaching for Facebook, I'd open Reddit instead. After a month, the urge mostly faded. After six months, I don't miss it at all except for occasional family check-ins.