Social Media is Ruining Our Lives… But We Can’t Stop Scrolling

Social Media is Ruining Our Lives… But We Can’t Stop Scrolling

Social media was supposed to connect people, but somewhere along the way, it became a 24/7 distraction. What started as a tool for staying in touch with family and friends has now turned into a full-blown addiction. People wake up and check their phones before even getting out of bed. Five minutes of scrolling quickly turns into an hour, and suddenly, they’re late for everything.

The problem isn’t just the time it consumes—it’s how it affects the way people think. Every post seems to be a carefully curated highlight reel, making everyone else’s life look more exciting. Someone buys a car, another one is on vacation, and someone else just announced a major achievement. Even when people know social media isn’t real life, the constant comparison can be exhausting.

Then there’s the issue of attention spans. People used to sit through long movies or read books without checking their phones. Now, if a video is longer than 30 seconds, it’s “too much.” The urge to constantly refresh, check notifications, and see what’s new has rewired how people focus—and not in a good way.

Ironically, social media is also where people go to “relax.” But is it really relaxing? Scrolling through endless posts, half reading, half watching, half replying—by the end of it, the brain feels even more drained. And let’s not forget the never-ending cycle of news updates, heated arguments in the comment section, and the pressure to “stay informed” even when it’s overwhelming.

Of course, quitting isn’t easy. Most people don’t even want to quit—they just wish they had better control. A complete detox sounds good in theory, but eventually, the boredom kicks in, and suddenly, they’re back online, promising themselves that “this time, it’ll be different.” Spoiler: it never is.

So, what’s the solution? Maybe it’s about setting boundaries, deleting unnecessary apps, or choosing when and how to engage. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time to accept that social media isn’t the problem—we are. And until we figure it out, the scrolling continues.