The Internet is a strange place and these extremely tough present times have given birth to a behaviour that has a new name — doom scrolling! Defined by the web world as “the practice of endlessly scrolling through social media and other information channels while reading dystopian news”, we are all guilty of consuming doom in various formats like videos, tweets, gifs and memes! Doom scrolling is even more effective on a platform like Instagram which has essentially well-curated images and pictures definitely pack a punch to any story! If you, like us, are fried from this exercise and need a break, do what we did! Fill your Insta feed with news that warms the cockles of your heart and restores your faith in humanity. Here is a quick list of who you can follow.
The Artidote
Started by a very young man, Jovanny Varela Ferreyra, The Artidote is exactly what you need to improve your mental health. Sharing quotes and thoughts on everything positive, there is a sense of understanding in the community he has built with people sharing their darkest and most intimate fears with perfect candour. Sharing helplines to therapists and launching courses on Instagram, The Artidote is the perfect antidote to the times we live in.
Find them: @theartidote
Followers: 1.1 million
@theartidote: “If the path you’re on doesn’t lead to you expanding your heart, soul, and mind, it’s not the right path.” — @lalahdelia; #ThingsToNeverForget; artwork by @3am.in.jupiter Source: @theartidote
The Dodo
The cutest animals from all around the world find a place on The Dodo’s page and we are not complaining. Telling heart-wrenching stories of abandoned pet rescues and glorious adoptions through videos, The Dodo does exemplary work getting foster pets adopted while also entertaining you with pet stories that always end in a happily-ever-after!
Find them: @thedodo
Followers: 9.4 million
@thedodo: This little girl’s friendship with her pittie is the purest thing ever. This little girl loves to read to her pit bull — and count her nipples — @realhappydogs, adopted/fostered through @wiregrassanimalgroup along with their foster pup Jones, now @thepinebarrenpups Source: @thedodo
We Rate Dogs
Hilarious and heart-warming at the same time, this page shares the best images of dogs around the world, “rating” them out of 10 for their ridiculous behaviours! We suspect the rating system is rigged since all dogs seem to be scoring above 10 but we are not complaining! What’s even more special is them using the page to raise money for illness-stricken puppers and the update that comes minutes within posting, which reads “Edit: Fully funded within 8 minutes”! Ah humanity!
Find them: @weratedogs
Followers: 1.7 million
@weratedogs: This is Boomer. He was attacked by some bubbles today. They got him right on the noggin. I’m told he has no plans to retaliate. 13/10 #seniorpupsaturday (follow @boomerlovessnacks) Source: @weratedogs
Humans of New York
Brandon Stanton, a New Yorker with a camera, started his storytelling on Facebook and has now travelled across the world through war-torn Libya to the nooks of New York streets, bringing people and stories in a way no one had witnessed before. It’s no surprise that the page has 10.8 million followers now. There is hardly more heartening a sense of community than the one created by this page.
Find them: @humansofny
Followers: 10.8 million
@humansofny: “Only time I’m unhappy is when I have a toothache. And I rarely have a toothache. I just love people and it gets reflected back to me. I’m always smiling. So when people see me, they be smiling. Even the mean people get cheered up. If someone says: ‘What you looking at?’ I just say: ‘God loves you.’ Then the Holy Ghost touches them. They think, ‘Darn it, I’m being mean to a nice guy.’ Then they get nice. Source: @humansofny
Good News Movement
Run by an unnamed journalist, this page does exactly what the name suggests — bring you only good news throughout the day. Three siblings wait for a surprise toy only to have their very ill brother return home from the hospital after 147 days; a firefighter Mike Bruno who climbs 110 flights of stairs on a stair master every September 11, to honour those firefighters who perished at the World Trade Centre — these are the kind of stories that are curated on this page. We adore!
Find them: @goodnews_movement
Followers: 1.7 million
goodnews_movement: (Medellín, Colombia): When Martin Londoño was injured in a car accident and now uses a wheelchair, he decided to turn his wheelchair into a motorcycle. Then he thought to create a business where he created opportunities for people like himself. He created @matt.movilidad —a wheelchair motorcycle delivery service to “create personal mobility, productivity, for those mobility-impaired and to encourage inclusion,” he told Good News Movement. He builds the motorcycles by hand, which run on electric batteries. Many shops that don’t require rush orders like jewelry, clothing stores and restaurants have signed on. Great idea! Source: @goodnews_movement
Upworthy
“Delivering you the best of humanity since 2012”, Upworthy is our favourite page when it comes to good news. Curating real-life incidents from around the world, Upworthy only believes in sharing news that is positive and makes your heart float!
Find them: @upworthy
Followers: 1.5 million
@upworthy: The heroic firefighters come from central Mexican city Guanajuato, which has a 50-year “sister city” relationship with Ashland, Oregon. The men include Captain Aldo Iván Ruiz, Captain Juan Armando Alvarez Villegas, Sargent Jorge Luis Anguiano Jasso, Sargent Luis Alfonso Campos Martínez and firefighter Miguel Ángel Hernández Lara. The world stands together. Thank you/ mil gracias. Source: @upworthy