You just saw this article, not because you were actually looking for information on your health, but because you were scrolling, probably looking for “nothing” really. Well, for your information, you may be one of the many with the Scroll Syndrome or what others call, doomscroll. Worry not, my friend; we are all in this together, but if you are resilient enough to make it to the end of this article without being distracted by any social media channel, kudos.
Scroll Syndrome or doomscroll refers to continuous scrolling through social media or browsing the web and constantly consuming a torrent of news/bad news. One is constantly either swiping their finger on the phone screen or clicking items on the screen of their laptop without a strong will. It normally is compulsive and the compulsion becomes quite pronounced when we normally are unoccupied. Sometimes, the compulsion is so strong that just to prevent anxiety, you have no choice but to indulge in the constant use of the device. Although it may not necessarily be a major medical condition enlisted among the common ones we know, mental health experts are beginning to have conversations about this problem which is affecting adults and children all over the world.
Many of us are stuck to the routine of spending the very first hour or minutes of the day reading messages, replying to them and watching videos, which normally do not necessarily add to our productivity. We have been bound to these routines to the extent that instead of saying a prayer or planning for a productive day, rather start by “enjoying” social media apps: WhatsApp, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, Twitter, etc.; whiles time slowly ticks.
Research conducted on the brain activity of humans reported that the average attention span of humans has drastically reduced over the years especially with the proliferation of smartphones. The same report claims that although our ability to multitask has improved, it is difficult for heavy multi-screeners to filter out unnecessary stimuli so are easily distracted by multiple streams of media.
Some have also explained that it has negatively impacted the lives of students and resulted in low self-esteem. We have now become so accustomed to compulsively and needlessly checking handheld devices that, our life seems to depend on it. Our brains are stuck to these dopamine-releasing algorithms; if you would intentionally study yourself for a few days, you would be surprised at how much time you waste using your phone without actually looking to do something productive.
Procrastination has now become pronounced; books have been ditched (our reading skills have been negatively impacted) and many productive plans have been ignored. Worst of all, our little ones have not been spared. We provide them with these devices at a very tender age, knowing very well the intention is to keep them busy and prevent them from “disturbing” us. These young folk are so hooked to this “opium” to the extent they are quite unable to cope when they are without them.
This has thus, affected their attention span and inadvertently resulted in poor academic performance. Painfully, the strangers you seek to protect them from have easy access to their space just with a click and when unsupervised, they get access to inappropriate and harmful content. Bottom line is, we are all suffering a subtle addiction worldwide, one that makes us sick with compulsion, anxiety, depression and counter productivity.
But we cannot fault ourselves entirely for this unfortunate trend. One cannot deny the amazing benefits technological advancement has brought us. Handheld devices give us easy access to information spanning various spheres of life: Many have learned new skills online and have tremendously improved their lives.
While some get the opportunity to showcase their skills, talents and abilities to the world, we all get the opportunity to interact with our families, friends, employers and employees. The social media space has enormously contributed to many transformations in our personal and social lives, thus, claiming it is entirely evil is just like calling the sound of the school bell a disaster amidst its benefits.
I do not have a magic pill to solve this global sickness and neither do I think there’ll be an end to it, but I believe we can break free from its effects to some extent if we want to. If you feel overwhelmed by your screen time and realise it is negatively affecting your productivity, you need to, first of all, acknowledge that you have a problem that, just like any addiction, needs a gradual and meticulous approach to solve. The cure path you choose would depend on the negative impacts you wish to forestall.
For example, if you feel that your reading abilities have been negatively impacted,
- Start your healing process by at least reading a page of a newspaper a day and gradually improve until you are able to read the novels you love and used to read
- Surrounding yourself with as many books as possible isn’t a bad idea either. “If you hang around the barbershop long enough, sooner or later, you are going to get a haircut.”
- Motivate yourself by imagining the benefits you seek to achieve after completing that book.
Put your phone away as much as you can and allow yourself to make healthier choices in areas of exercise and other outdoor activities. Spend time with family and friends and indulge in conversations in physical environments as often as possible. Most importantly, protect your children’s brains.
Reducing your screen time is a sure way to be more productive unless your work and livelihood entirely depend on it. We are caught up in this subtle web but it is possible for he who believes he can, to consciously free himself.
Congratulations on reaching the end of this article.
The writer, Eric Makafui Blewusi, is a dedicated Nurse with a special interest in Public Health and Medical Research
