The Comedy of Scrolls: How social media's quirks mess with our minds

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Kickoff: The First One

Well...if you are reading this then either you are a friend of mine who found out that I started a blog or a curious reader who wondered his way to this page. In either case, I am quite sure that all of you would relate to what I decided to write about as my first article on this blog. The most common syndrome we all suffer from- The Social Media.

Social media, an amazing platform where we can compare our lives to other people's highlight reels, feel pressured to post the perfect picture, and constantly crave validation from strangers. It's incredible how this wonderful invention has managed to mess with our self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being. We spend hours mindlessly scrolling through our feeds, comparing ourselves to others, and feeling inadequate. The constant need for likes, comments, and followers has turned us into validation-seeking robots, always seeking external approval to feel good about ourselves. We've become so addicted to the dopamine hit from notifications and likes that we've forgotten how to live in the moment and be content with who we are. Thanks, social media, for making us feel inadequate and insecure about our lives.

But hey, at least we can all laugh at the fact that we're being manipulated by a bunch of pixels on a screen, right? It's a mad, mad world out there in the land of likes and shares. I went into reflective mode and came up with a few symptoms of this disease I noticed in myself. Please nod your head while reading if you also relate to this. Here we go.

The Allure of Infinite Scrolling

I am sure you had that moment when you thought of just having one potato chip you told yourself you'd only have one. You start with a nibble. And the next thing you know, you are at the bottom of the bag trying to pull out those broken crumbs of chips from the corners of the packet. Well, the infinite scrolling is the digital version of getting sucked into the chips packet but with reels and memes instead of crushing gravitational forces. You need to be careful with this buffet that never closes. You keep going back for one more bite, end up being bloated, and still somehow hungry for more.

Trust me, FOMO (fear of missing out ) is making us a slave to the screen as we scroll through an endless stream of dopamine hits. But all the while your productivity, sleep, and most importantly, your sanity is slipping further and further away. Let's start addressing this issue.

The Dopamine Effect

Let me try to explain what DOPAMINE is in layman's language. Whenever something exciting or rewarding happens in our lives-like receiving a compliment, getting some unexpected money, etc., Dopamine pops out, bursts balloons, and says "Woo-hoo! once more". It's like having a mini celebration in your head every time something awesome happens. So the Dopamine Effect is your brain's way of throwing a tiny rave party every time it experiences something it likes.

One of the most significant ways social media quirks mess with our minds is through the Dopamine Effect. Every 'like,' 'share,' or 'comment' triggers a small burst of dopamine, creating a cycle of reward that keeps us coming back for more. This constant lust for validation can lead to addictive behaviors and hampers our ability to focus on tasks that require continuous attention. Isn't it concerning??

Memory Blur

This one is the most relatable. Does it happen to you that you pick up your phone to google something and forget what exactly you wanted to search? I forget why I started scrolling in the first place-was I looking for 10 ways to be rich quickly, how to make butter chicken, or how to attain peace of mind. For now, endless scrolling is taking all the peace away by distracting the brain perpetually.

The overload of information through reels of different genres makes it harder for your mind to make clear and long-lasting memories. Everything starts to blend to make "Khichdi"(Indian porridge ) of memes, food pictures, and viral trends. This "Khichdi" runs through your eyes before you try to sleep at night. This constant state of distraction makes us lose focus and leaves us with blurred recollection of what matters. If it is happening to you as well then, my dear readers, this article is a wake-up call for you.

Rabbit hole syndrome

If you know -rabbits are known for digging a deep hole in the ground. But I can give them a tough fight if they start using Instagram. That's how I feel that I have fallen a rabbit hole while scrolling through social media. You start just wanting to check in on a friend's post, and before you know it, you've spent hours watching and sharing reels(mostly inappropriate and dark) with your mains. It's like you've entered a never-ending loop of mindless scrolling and before you know it you become Alice in Wonderland. That's the rabbit hole syndrome of social media for you!

Deja scroll

Did not understand?? Let me explain-Deja scroll is that moment when your thumb is on autopilot mode and you are cruising through your feed and suddenly you feel like you have already seen that Korean skin treatment video Trust me, that’s universal telling you –hey buddy, you have been here before, it’s time to step aside. It's the digital equivalent of walking into the same room multiple times, only to find its the still the same room. Your feed is just playing its favorite hits on repeat.

Scroll Hangover

I am sure most of you know what a Hangover is. You wake up with a pounding head, blurry vision, and a vague sense of regret, and you promise yourself that you won't drink again. You feel the same when you are hungover because of scrolling. But the worst part? No amount of coffee can shake off that feeling of having spent hours in the black hole of endless scrolling. You have thumb cramps and a disturbing knowledge of some facts that you didn't need to know. The Scrolling Hangover hits hard: your brain feels like mush, bloodshot eyes, and your thumb might be stuck forever in a swiping positing. And Just like any hangover, you swear you'll never to try squeeze in one more episode of your favorite show on Netflix. Until the next time you do it again.

Algorithm mysteries

I don’t understand the science behind this mystery and it has started to freak me out now. But it has become a common understanding that we see ads for things we only thought about but never searched for. And if you search for a product then it will keep popping up on your screen until you buy it. The more disturbing thing is that we all know it and we have made peace with it. It often leads to wasting money on things we don’t even really need. Also if you give it a thought, do we even have any privacy? Even after knowing this, is there any escape from it because we are so dependent on gadgets? To avoid remembering 20 passwords we end up auto saving them in our system. But we rely too much on technology. Where does this data go? Please tell me you agree to it and I am not being too paranoid about it.

Scrollopocalypse

Ah, Scroll and Apocalypse together. It begins innocently enough- just a glance at social media after a washroom break, a harmless scroll through your feed but then something happens. The posts keep coming, the memes won't stop, and before you know it, you are trapped. Like any apocalypse, it’s like the end of the world, but instead of zombies, you are trying to escape travel reels, food pics, funny memes, and workout videos. You keep looking for that ideal last post that could give a well-deserved break to your thumb but it never comes. I realized that my subconscious mind was turning into a 24/7 media influencer. I sometimes fear, what if my descendants have eyes in the shape of the Instagram icon.

Mental Health Dilemma

I understand when people use social media for quick entertainment or as a slight distraction during their lunch breaks. However, the quirks of social media extend beyond mere distraction and can have serious implications for mental health. I am sure I speak for you when I say that I have already started to forget simple things. I open Google and then I forget what I wanted to search. Also, I believe that the relentless exposure to negative news and online harassment is slowly accumulating anxiety and depression. No wonder every second person says that they feel depressed or have anxiety. We blame it on work stress, lack of sleep, etc. However social media is a high stakeholder. in it. On top of it, the constant comparison to others' curated lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Scrollnesia

Ever been a victim of Scrollnesia??? It is a phenomenon when you keep forgetting everything that you scroll through as soon as you close the app. One minute you are reading an article, and the next you've lost track of what it was all about. It's like your brain hits the refresh button every few minutes. If you experience this then welcome to the Scrollnesia support group. We are here for you. Join us in navigating the scroll hole-who knows what you might find?

The Illusion of Connection

The whole concept of social media was to foster a sense of connection among users. I still have snap streaks on SNAPCHAT with my cousins just to give me a feeling of connection. However, the quality of these connections often falls short. You still end up looking for support in the hour of need. While it may feel like we are constantly interacting with friends and family, these virtual chats lack the depth and authenticity of face-to-face interactions. This Connection illusion might leave us feeling lonelier and more isolated in the long run.

The Solution- a "band-aid fix"

My dear readers, I have crafted a solution. A way to save money while scrolling like a fool. I have set up a piggy bank. I penalize myself by putting $5 in the piggy bank every time I open social media unnecessarily. Trust me, Instagram helped me buy a pair of shoes that I have been wanting to buy for months. It's working like a double-edged sword for me. If I waste time on social media then I save more money. If I don't use social media then I save time. But it only works if you don't have commitment issues(not talking about relationships).

Conclusion: "You are what you eat"

Eat??? No no, I am not deviating from the topic. I am talking about "Digital Food " that you eat every day. Let me be clear-the idea behind this article is not to discourage the usage of social media. I would be a hypocrite if I said that social media is only harmful. Through this article, I am just trying to convey the importance of being mindful of your "Digital Consumption". How social media affects your mood and behavior that ultimately impacts your decision-making, directly or indirectly. Set time limits, and curate your feed to include positive content to mitigate the impact on mental well-being. The water is already above the head. Now is the time to make smart choices and make constructive use of the time. Remember, your mood and behavior empower you to make healthier choices. Good Luck.