In this digital age, most of our daily lives are dependent on screens. Work, learning ,entertainment, communication, everything has transformed into a digital format. Our opposable thumbs- a distinctive feature of humans, are now put to use for scrolling.
Effects of scrolling:
A study conducted to check the effects of doom-scrolling post-COVID(engaging in continuous negative information input) stated that doom-scrolling actually started during the COVID pandemic era as a mechanism or survival instinct to cope with uncertainty. But it has now led to addiction.
- straining of ocular muscles (a stereotypical line narrated by every Indian mother to their children)
- Hunched posture or postural deformities
- De Quervains tenosynovitis (a.k.a smartphone thumb)
- Increased stress and anxiety due to the flood of cortisol and adrenaline in the blood especially after engaging in negative news or information
- Emotional exhaustion leading to mental fatigue, impaired decision making etc
- Poor sleep due to the impact of blue light emissions and increased cortisol
- Deranged attention span
Certain benefits of scrolling:
Even though, harms are more than benefits, engaging in social media or non-work related scrolling, the right form of content helps the mind in taking a break, communicating and connecting, distracting the over-worked brain.
Lastly, use of digital devices is inevitable, so is scrolling. The solution to prevent the harms lies in maintaining a balance.
What are your thoughts on this? What are some solutions to disengage from scrolling?
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MBH/PS