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Scrolling into Stress? Rethinking Social Media’s Impact on Well-Being

INTRODUCTION: THE HIDDEN COST OF ALWAYS ONLINE

Social media platforms promise connection and creativity, but are they quietly undermining our well-being? Digital well-being is defined as ‘the feeling of fulfilment, utility and control when using digital technologies’ (Büchi, 2021). This blog argues that the design and business models of social media platforms often work against users’ digital wellbeing, promoting addictive behaviours and exacerbating psychological stress.In a hyper-connected world where notifications are constant and information is constantly refreshed, users feel the pressure to remain visible online. This “always-on” culture leads to cognitive overload and a blurring of the line between rest and stimulation (Carmi et al., 2020) As more and more aspects of life move online, understanding how platforms shape these behaviours becomes crucial.

PLATFORM DESIGN: DESIGNED TO BE ADDICTIVE

Features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications and auto-playing videos are purposely designed to maximise a user’s time on a platform. These are persuasive techniques that utilise cognitive biases (Eyal, 2014). For example, TikTok’s “for you page” constantly serves up emotionally charged content to users, reducing their ability to self-regulate their usage and increasing digital fatigue (Montag et al., 2021). Whilst these tools may increase user engagement, they diminish users’ control over their digital habits.According to research by Alter (2017), the psychological mechanisms behind these designs are similar to those used in gambling machines—reward loops, unpredictability, and anticipation. Users may intend to spend five minutes on an app, but instead lose hours to content that was never intentionally searched for. These manipulative designs are not flaws—they are features intended to maximise data collection and monetisation.These behaviours are particularly concerning for younger users, who are developmentally more vulnerable to compulsive usage patterns. Kuss and Griffiths (2017) argue that social media addiction is linked to anxiety, poor sleep, and academic underperformance, especially among adolescents. Their study shows that compulsive checking of notifications becomes a form of self-soothing—ironically reducing mental health over time. As such, design becomes a matter of public health, not just usability.

BUSINESS MODELS: MONITORING CAPITALISM

Behind the friendly user interface is a system of data extraction. platforms such as Instagram and Facebook monetise attention by collecting behavioural data to sell targeted advertising (Zuboff, 2019). This economic logic drives platform design choices that prioritise user retention over user well-being. Even features like ‘screen time reminders’ are optional, ineffective, and more PR than protection (Ranadive and Ginsberg, 2018).These models, often called surveillance capitalism, raise ethical concerns around informed consent. Most users are unaware of the extent to which their personal data is harvested, inferred, and commodified. This lack of transparency erodes trust and places users in a passive, extractable role, rather than as autonomous participants in digital space (Hödl and Myrach, 2023).

Content and Emotional Damage

Social media can also expose users to toxic content, from body image ideals to misinformation. Visual platforms in particular contribute to a culture of comparison. Young women often compare themselves to idealised images, often leading to lowered self-esteem and anxiety (Fardouly et al., 2015.) This psychological impact is amplified when platforms algorithmically promote engagement with such content.The phenomenon of doomscrolling, particularly amid global crises, intensifies unpleasant sentiments. Research undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that extended exposure to upsetting content worsened anxiety, loneliness, and depressed symptoms, especially among young individuals (Gao et al., 2020). Notwithstanding this, algorithms persist in promoting this material due to its elevated engagement rates.In addition, the illusion of control created by curated feeds and algorithmic personalisation often deceives users into believing they are making conscious choices. Docherty (2021) warns that the automation of emotional experience on platforms—through targeted content that mimics empathy—can lead to false intimacy and digital manipulation. This has implications for our emotional autonomy and contributes to longer-term disconnection from genuine human interactions.

Supportive communities: a multifaceted landscape
It is essential to acknowledge that platforms may also provide peer assistance, especially in the domain of mental health. Online communities offer platforms for affirmation and the exchange of experiences, potentially improving well-being (Naslund et al., 2016). Nonetheless, many beneficial applications endure despite platform motivations.Platforms like Reddit or Twitter host subcommunities where users share coping strategies or discuss struggles openly. Yet even these spaces face moderation challenges, with some communities being hijacked by harmful advice or misinformation. Without robust safeguarding tools, such spaces can become double-edged swords, offering both help and harm.

Conclusion: digital design requires transformation
Although social media fosters friendships, its structural design may frequently harm users’ emotional well-being. To advance authentic digital health, platforms must emphasise ethical design, transparency, and algorithmic accountability. Until that time, users will be confined within systems engineered for profit rather than well-being.As users, we also have a voice. Through digital literacy, screen time awareness and platform pressure campaigns, we can influence the development of these systems. However, long-term solutions require regulatory intervention and ethical leadership from the tech industry. Only then will digital spaces become places of empowerment rather than places of exhaustion.

References (Harvard Style)：

Alter, A. (2017). Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. New York: Penguin Press.

Büchi, M. (2021). Digital Wellbeing. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Carmi, E., Yates, S., Lockley, E. and Pawluczuk, A. (2020). Digital Wellbeing: Developing a New Metric for the Digital Age. Palgrave Macmillan.

Docherty, N. (2021). The automation of empathy in platform design. International Journal of Communication, 15, pp. 2730–2748. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/17721

Eyal, N. (2014). Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products. Penguin.

Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P.C., Vartanian, L.R. and Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, pp.38–45.

Gao, J., Zheng, P., Jia, Y. et al. (2020). Mental health problems and social media exposure during COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS ONE, 15(4), e0231924.

Hödl, T. and Myrach, T. (2023). Content creators between platform control and user autonomy: the role of algorithms and revenue sharing. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 65(5), pp.497–519.

Kuss, D.J. and Griffiths, M.D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311.

Montag, C., Lachmann, B., Herrlich, M. and Zweig, K. (2021). Digital detox: An effective solution or just another digital myth? Addictive Behaviors Reports, 13, 100339.

Naslund, J.A., Aschbrenner, K.A., Marsch, L.A. and Bartels, S.J. (2016). The future of mental health care: peer-to-peer support and social media. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 25(2), pp.113–122.

Ranadive, A. and Ginsberg, D. (2018). New Tools to Manage Your Time on Facebook and Instagram. [online] Meta. Available at: https://about.fb.com/news/2018/08/manage-your-time/ (Accessed: 20 May 2025).

Zuboff, S. (2019). The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. PublicAffairs.

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