We do it naturally and casually as if it were a natural gesture and instead it risks being a trap for our brain. We are talking about the “scrolling», when we quickly scroll through content on the net or on social networks to find something to watch. A mechanism which has become even more dangerous since the flow of content has been made uninterrupted, hence the term «endless scrolling».
It’s like an endless well, just a quick swipe of our finger on the phone or mouse, and after one piece of content comes another and then another: a photo, a video, news and so on. Stopping “shaking” is more difficult than it seems.
On the other hand, this feature was introduced by the main social network platforms and beyond, precisely with the aim of making us stay online as long as possible, hooked up to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc. without offering us an easy way out.
And in some cases, scrolling through content becomes compulsive, bulimic, with the risk of falling into the «doom scrolling», a sort of real addiction. It’s not uncommon for some people to spend hours scrolling without even realizing it.
Behind this almost unconscious action there is indeed a motivation psychological call «instrumental conditioning». Some studies have in fact highlighted how scrolling generates a real one gratificationa kind of pleasure due to the release of dopaminethe hormone of happiness.
When should we worry? Virtually everyone who uses a smartphone or computer “scrolls” but not everyone is in danger. The situation becomes serious when it is difficult to get out of the fence, when day after day to get that sense of gratification generated by the use of content we increase the time more and more that we spend glued to the screen in constant search of something new.
The risk of addiction there is and it shouldn’t be underestimated especially when the scroll gesture becomes almost automatic as a response to boredom. If in a moment of pause at the coffee machine, at the bus stop, in bed before going to sleep we realize that our smartphone becomes a consolation tool, that we use it just as a pastime consumed content without commitment and attention is good to run for cover.
Unfortunately there are no binding methods to curb obsessive scrolling, but among the useful tools there are management functions and parental controls of the individual apps that allow you to indicate a usage threshold after which you are notified with a message. Alternatively you can use the applications of «digital wellbeing» like that of Google, Offtime And Freedom.
However, these aids risk being ineffective if we are not, in first person, a give us or to give rules To the kids. For example by deciding not to use the phone at the table, when watching television or (and it would be a very right thing) to avoid using the smartphone in bed, before going to sleep.
A good viaticum it is clearly recognize the problem and if this does not happen spontaneously let us all feel involved in being the ones to highlight any excesses to the people who are close to us. If the addiction appears more critical and severe there are numerous specialized centres who deal with these problems. In these cases, asking for help is always worth it.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
