It’s half-past ten and I’m finally ready for bed. I can’t resist grabbing my cellphone to make a quick check on my inbox and social media accounts. It’s only me and my phone for the next 30 minutes, at least that’s what I plan to do. But when I next check the time, it’s half-past twelve. A person like me, who checks the clock quite frequently, deliberately ignores time while scrolling social media posts. Does this happen with you too?
Did you find it relatable?
There are more like us. Study shows that about two-third of the humans on this planet spend more than two hours everyday on social media scrolling. Fun videos. Cute memes. Heartwarming stories. But is it all joy? Or does it sneak in stress?
Social media scrolling can lift our spirits. It can also sink them. Let’s explore the pros, the cons and the smart ways to balance them.
The Bright Side: Why Scrolling Feels So Good
Social media isn’t all doom. Scrolling has real perks. First, it connects us with our near and dear ones. We chat with old friends across oceans. We share laughs with family far away. Today, platforms like X (previously Twitter) and Facebook make this easy. No stamps needed. Just a tap and we are connected.
Social media provides instant news. We learn about protests, celeb scandals or global events in real time. It feels like magic we want to explore. The never-ending human quest for knowledge converges us towards social media scrolling.
Job hunting is another incentive. People rush to Linkedin to search for jobs and part-time gigs. Brands can find suitable employees. Businesses grow fast. Many are busy posting viral posts that can boost sales.
Social media scrolling is good for mental health to some extent. By liking and commenting on a post, you boost someone’s morale. Join groups with like-minded people and discuss what’s important for you. It fights loneliness which is a big problem in today’s world.
Scrolling can inspire. We see travel vlogs and fitness challenges. Such social media posts motivate us. In short, smart scrolling connects. It educates. It entertains. When done right, it’s a mood booster.
The Dark Side: When Scrolling Steals Your Peace
Everything comes at a price. Endless scrolling can have negative impact on your well-being. It consumes your limited time, brain attention and most importantly, real-life moments. Then there’s Doomscrolling. It is bingeing on negative content online. It may include war news, accidents, tragedies. It spikes anxiety and induce fear. Social media scrolling for long time increases the risk of depression. Thing is we are very much aware of the hefty price we pay for the feel-good scrolling.
Comparisons kill. On social media, we come across perfect lives and filtered faces. Our lives look incomplete when compared with the those of the people on the social media. We seek other people’s validation and wait for the likes on our posts on the social media channels. It leads to addiction. The purpose of the social media companies gets fulfilled in the process. What do we get?
Notifications ping, disturbing our focus. Sleep quality deteriorates. We toss all night.
Cyberbullying is another drawback of the social media. Gen Z peeps suffer it the most.
Scroll Smarter: How to Make Scrolling Work for You
Now that you are well-informed about the pros and cons of the social media scrolling, steps should be taken to keep it in control. The smarter ways to scroll smart should be imbibed in our daily scrolling habits.
• Be sure you ready to fix your scrolling habits. Take small steps to begin with.
• Set limits. Fix your screen time. Start from 90 minutes per day.
• Regulate your app time. Know how to differentiate between the apps. The apps that consume most of your time without helping in any way, should be allotted zero or minimum time.
• Unfollow the accounts that spread negativity. Your mental health matters the most.
• Bloomscroll. Follow the accounts that uplift your spirit. Watch happy videos.
• Don’t let social media scrolling interfere with your sleep time. Remember, your sleep time is directly proportional to your productivity.
• Take breaks. Try “digital detox.” Walks without phones recharge brains.
• Scroll with intend. Mindless scrolling may lead to impaired focus and decreased productivity.
• Balance online with offline. Call friends, meet them. Attend social gatherings.
These tweaks work. Studies show mindful use cuts stress and boosts joy. Your scroll should be a tool, not a trap. Remember, social media platforms are here to serve you. Don’t give them the power to rule you. Instead, set the boundaries, curate the joy, and log off when it’s time to live.
This post is a part of ‘Blogchatter Half Marathon’.
PANORAMIC RIPPLES 
Too much of anything is not good for you. That would apply to social media and scrolling. Moderation is the key. Good post. Glad to know the pros and cons.
This is so true, scrolling does have its benefits and can be quiet a chill way to while away some time.