Let us face it. Doomscrolling is on the upward trend. It is everywhere, it is like everyone is on their mobiles. It is not like an epidemic yet, but we are getting there. By mentioning doomscrolling I am not just referring to negative news only (like it was the case when COVID first started), but all the social media platforms with short videos and reels which are really disruptive to day-to-day functioning. COVID is long gone but the algorithms remain and will continue. Everyone with a mobile and with free time is like a puppet so as to say for the social media algorithms which are getting more subtle and refined based on one's likes and obsessions and they feed these on and on without one even realizing it. If you are not aware you can spend hours and hours just being a witness of such videos instead of doing something productive. I myself have been increasingly distracted over the last month or so.
I always thought about what was so special with our generation and felt there were few positives for us overall. As the years go by, I have come to realize that it is our generation who has seen the rise of technology through their teenage years and hence we know about the advantages and disadvantages. I think this helps to find the right balance between using technology and maintaining human connections/relationships. It is like we know the importance of both and finding the middle ground so to speak. I am so glad I do not have to deal with something like watching reels before an important exam/test or meeting.
So what is the solution? First off, I would like to mention it is not all bad. There are a lot of good things, advice on such platforms which can help for self-improvement and goal setting, etc. We cannot just label them all bad. The problem is when it is not in moderation, when it is mindlessly going on for hours just wasting away your time. Even the time spent watching four to five reels which is around 3-4 minutes can be utilized to be more productive and proactive. There has to be a middle way or even better complete avoidance. But really there is always the fear of missing out if there is complete avoidance/ban. When I found myself on Instagram a lot I found the middle way by limiting the minutes I spent on the platform which in a way is a start. I think another option is books. I think reading books has been of immense help for me. Reading about various topics has always been a passion for me and I am glad that has helped me.
In conclusion, it is hard to fathom that the mobile is just a highly advanced technological tool and we have to use it just as a tool. There is nothing free about softwares or apps, they cost you your most valuable asset that is time. Also, do not give the power to the developer of such algorithms over your free will. Comment if you like to share anything related to this.
