Unpacking the science of social media

What is it?

Doomscrolling is the habit of endlessly consuming negative news, videos or social media posts, even when they're making you feel worse.

Why it happens?

Our brains are naturally drawn to threats because they help keep us safe. Social media platforms know this and continuously feed us emotionally charged content to keep us engaged.

Where this affects your mind?

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Poor sleep
• Loss of hope
• Constant mental fatigue

Question to ask yourself?

"When was the last time scrolling for another 20 minutes actually made me feel better?"

What are they?

Algorithms are computer systems that decide what appears on your social media feed based on tracking of what you've watched, liked or interacted with.

Why it happens?

Their purpose is to keep your attention for as long as possible. The longer you stay online, the more valuable you become to advertisers.

Where this affects your mind?

• Shapes your beliefs
• Reinforces your opinions
• Narrows your perspective
• Increases emotional reactions
• Makes it harder to switch off

Question to ask yourself?

"Am I choosing my feed, or is my feed choosing me?"

What is it?

Digital identity is the version of yourself you present online through your photos, posts, comments and profile.

Why it happens?

Social media encourages us to carefully manage how we're seen, rewarding staged or idealised versions of ourselves with attention and approval.

Where this affects your mind?

• Self-worth
• Confidence
• Authenticity
• Identity
• Fear of judgement
• Perfectionism

Question to ask yourself?

"Who am I when no one is clicking 'Like'?"

What is it?

FOMO is the fear that everyone else is enjoying better experiences, achieving more or living a more exciting life than you.

Why it happens?

Social media constantly exposes us to other people's highlight reels while we compare them to our everyday lives.

Where this affects your mind?

• Anxiety
• Dissatisfaction
• Gratitude
• Self-esteem
• Impatience
• Feeling behind in life

Question to ask yourself?

"Am I comparing my everyday life to someone else's highlight reel?"

What is it?

Notification overload is the constant interruption from alerts, messages and reminders competing for your attention throughout the day.

Why it happens?

Apps are designed to pull you back in. Every notification creates another opportunity for you to engage with the platform.

Where this affects your mind?

• Attention
• Focus
• Productivity
• Stress
• Mental energy
• Being present

Question to ask yourself?

"Who's in control of my attention—me or my phone?"

What is it?

Parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional connections with influencers, celebrities, athletes or online creators who don't actually know us.

Why it happens?

Seeing and hearing someone regularly creates familiarity. Our brains can begin to experience these interactions as genuine relationships.

Where this affects your mind?

• Belonging
• Loneliness
• Expectations
• Self-worth
• Relationships
• Identity

Question to ask yourself?

"Am I spending more time watching other people's lives than building my own?"