Scrolling habits and why It’s making us feel worse.

When I scroll social media it often feels fun at first. But after a while I start comparing myself to others. I see people going on trips, working hard, enjoying most of their time with friends. Then I look at my life which sucks and feel like I am not doing enough.

I did not realize this was a pattern until I saw someone describe it on Reddit. In this post, a user explains how scrolling feels fine while it is happening but makes them feel bad afterward. They said it took them a long time to notice the connection because the effect is quiet and delayed.

Psychologists explain that this happens because the brain processes social information very quickly. According to research by Dr. Melissa Hunt, increased social media use is linked to worse mood, especially when people compare themselves to others. Even short periods of scrolling can affect how someone feels afterward.
No More FOMO. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.

The problem is not scrolling once in a while. The problem is scrolling without noticing how it affects you. If something regularly leaves you feeling worse, it is not neutral anymore.

There are a few small things that can help without deleting social media completely. One is checking in with yourself after scrolling instead of during. Ask yourself how you feel once you put the phone down. Another is setting a limit before opening the app. Even ten minutes helps reduce the endless scroll. It also helps to unfollow accounts that trigger comparison or stress. You are allowed to protect your attention.

Scrolling should not leave you feeling worse than before. If it does, that is something worth paying attention to.

Pause and reflect:
How do you usually feel after scrolling
What type of content affects your mood the most