Gen Z and millennials: one minute they’re seriously discussing how their mental health keeps steadily declining (from 13.7% in 2019 to 28.9% in 2023)—then they’re goofing around with a TikTok dance the next, like nothing happened.  

And it’s not like these mood swings keep them from inventing new slangs that keep us guessing. We'll define “doomers”, the slang term that pokes both fun and critique at young adults’ increasing unhappiness.

What is a Doomer?

A “doomer” is someone who holds an extremely pessimistic or fatalistic view of the future. This mindset is often based on real-world issues like pollution, overpopulation, and the state of the economy, but with an extra sprinkle of “doom”—that fuels the fear of Roombas turning into something out of ‘The Terminator.’

It can't be denied that the world is doing worse than expected in some areas, but not everything is terrible. Still, the Doomers take it upon themselves to believe that society is on a downward spiral, and that humanity is either unwilling or unable to prevent a total breakdown. While these concerns are based—at least in part—on legitimate issues, doomers prefer to adopt a resigned and hopeless perspective that has no faith in positive change.

What is the Doomer Meme?

The doomer meme originated from the broader “Wojak” meme universe on internet forums such as 4chan and Reddit, around 2008-2010. Perhaps you’ve seen these figures before?

In case you haven’t, the first is the original Wojak, and the other two are the “doomer guy” and “doomer girl”. The “doomer guy” is just your typical worn-out guy. Dark circles under his eyes, a beanie, and a cigarette—the prime example of an exhausted, nihilist, and emotionally burnt-out millennial. The “doomer girl” counterpart is similar, but with a gothic fashion sense included. These characters are used to reflect the existential angst of young people confronting a world that feels broken or irreparable to them… through memes.

What is Doomer Music?

If you needed a soundtrack to bop off to during the apocalypse, look no further—the doomers have got you covered. As the meme spread, it gave rise to a subgenre known as “doomer music.” The perfect track for when you feel cast aside, doomer music uses lo-fi and ambient sounds to draw you into that hopelessness and detachment. 

It’s Radiohead’s perfect clientele. Users make their own mixtapes on platforms like YouTube and Spotify, adding in some Joy Division or indie lo-fi for some flavor. It becomes a kind of echo chamber for the listener to sink into the doomer mindset.

What is Doomscrolling?

Doomscrolling or doomscrolling means endlessly scrolling through social media apps and getting overdosed with bad vibes, bad news, and just empty, meaningless "content." It’s definitely not something you should do if you want to feel better.

Life Imitating Art, or Art Imitating Life?

Doomer culture certainly blurs the lines between reality and representation. On one hand, they raise awareness about important global issues. On the other, one could argue that they exaggerate the hopelessness so much that they’re digging their own grave, creating even more despair and inaction. Do the memes reflect their reality, or do they shape their outlooks? That’s a question for the ages.

How to Stop Being a Doomer

It takes some willpower and a change of mindset to stop being a doomer. Unless you want to be the next Homer Simpson, parading around with a “The End Is Near” strapped to your back, it might be best to keep your anxiety in check.

To break free from doomerism, you can try these things:

1. Keep away from doomer memes: Try unfollowing doomer accounts or stepping away from cesspools like Reddit and 4chan. “Touching some grass” will do you good.
2. Stop doom-scrolling: Stop compulsively checking the media and the news. It will only oversaturate you with bad news. Bad news sells better and engages more than wholesome content.
3. Don’t give up: The economy, generational wealth gaps, and people ripping us off by claiming icebergs are melting. Sometimes all the odds seem to be stacking up against you. But don’t throw in the towel just yet. 
4. Focus on the positives: Even if they’re small, you’ll start building a growing list of good things around you. It’s likely your social media will tune in to your new preferences and show you more hopeful content, too. 

Keep on swimming, and you’ll be able to find the light at the end of the tunnel. A win-win for your mental health, if you ask us.