11 Devastating Effects Of Daily Short Video Consumption
And how you can get rid of this addiction
1. The vanishing attention span
The “scroll syndrome” is real, and many of us have experienced it. When you spend too much time on social media, you find it hard to do real-life activities.
You may feel upset, sad, or anxious when not using your phone. It’s like mindlessly moving around without any purpose, just by looking at whatever is in front of you.
So, when we try to do something that requires more focus, like reading a book or studying, it’s hard to stay with it for a long time. We might feel frustrated after just a few minutes.
I remember the frustration I felt after attempting to read a book for longer than 10 minutes. The struggle was real.
2. A hazy reality
Using these apps too much can make our minds feel confused.
Have you ever sat next to someone, and their words sound far away because your mind is lost in distractions?
If your answer to this question is yes, then you’re not the only one. Easy daily tasks can be forgotten because of the constant flow of information.
Because when you use social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok too much, you’re constantly being bombarded with new information, and new feelings and that makes your mind hazy to everything else.
3. The rollercoaster ride of anxiety
Social media can be like an emotional rollercoaster. It’s because we see so many types of content.
One minute, you might be feeling angry, then suddenly you see something that makes you sad, and a moment later, something funny cheers you up. This constant up and down of emotions can be exhausting.
We swing between sadness, happiness, pride, and anger within minutes. It’s an emotional workout, with our minds working overtime to process it all.
4. The procrastination trap
Another thing is that when we’re always on these apps, we start feeling lazy. Our brains get used to being in “leisure mode.”
We feel like doing nothing because it’s easy. It’s so easy to lose hours of your time just scrolling through the never-ending content. So, we procrastinate, which means we keep delaying important things we need to do.
And then we feel guilty for not doing the work, but the cycle never ends. Because working on your goals is always going to be much harder than scrolling on Instagram.
5. The abyss of screen addiction
This is a big one.
Many people, young and old, even our primate relatives like gorillas, become addicted to their screens. Even 1 to 2-year-old children, who can’t even speak properly, throw such big tantrums over the phone. They know how it use it even though they can’t walk properly.
It’s hard to resist the pull of the next video or post. We can’t seem to put our phones down. We keep telling ourselves just a few more minutes, a few more videos, and before we know it, we’ve spent 5 to 6 hours just watching reels.
The pull of endless content can be overpowering. And it hurts us a lot.
6. Slumber’s sabotage
Research indicates that the blue light from your smartphone is harmful to your eyes and can also negatively impact your sleep.
Many of us have had our sleep disrupted by the seductive glow of our screens. The enchantment of Instagram or TikTok has led us to scroll for hours past our bedtime.
The consequences are often felt the next day when we are tired and exhausted.
7. The isolation illusion
The digital world may not let you feel alone, as your brain is constantly occupied. We might not feel the need to go out and meet our friends in person.
Even when we are with our families, we keep scrolling on our phones. And this is not just our generation. Even older people have become too addicted to social media to put their phones down.
And this can lead to social isolation and a slow descent into depression. We humans are not designed to spend our lives within four walls; we crave sunlight, fresh air, the scent of blooming flowers, and the company of others.
8. The laziness loop
Once you sink into the couch with TikTok, you might feel too lazy to do anything else, and getting up becomes a monumental task.
Even a mere 30 minutes of scrolling can lead to self-loathing and further indulgence in unhealthy habits like smoking or consuming junk food.
9. Creativity’s demise
When we’re always on our phones, we’re never bored.
When we were children, boredom led us to play, paint, or explore. The creative mind thrives on boredom, a luxury we rarely afford ourselves in the digital age.
Now, as we’re constantly busy with our phones, it kills our creativity.
10. Anger and resentment
Hours wasted, essential tasks procrastinated, and productivity sacrificed, what remains is a sense of guilt and resentment.
You might have felt busy during your digital escapade, but in reality, you achieved little. It makes us emotionally drained and utterly unproductive, which makes us feel irritated and angry.
11. Overcoming the echo chamber
When we spend too much time on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, we often find ourselves trapped in what’s known as the “echo chamber”.
It’s a place where we rewatch, like, share, and comment on content that aligns with our existing beliefs and opinions. Social media algorithms then reinforce this cycle, limiting our exposure to diverse ideas and perspectives.
It’s a subtle process, and before we know it, we might find ourselves attached to a single ideology.
How you can get rid of this addiction
Even with all the negative effects, we’ll not stop using our phones. So, it’s good to find a balance between the digital world and the real world. Spending time with people, being creative, and taking care of ourselves is important too.
Embrace the real world, with its rich experiences, diverse perspectives, and moments of pure, unfiltered creativity.
Here’s how you can do that:
1. Get out of the concrete walls
When we are at home and don’t have anything to do, 99% of the time, we would end up scrolling social media.
If you can afford to go outside, you can save your mental health from endless scrolling and improve your physical health. So, just start walking or cycling. Do anything you want, but get out of the house.
2. Get bored
Seriously, people!
Throw your phone away and sit with yourself for at least 10–15 minutes a day. Boredom is necessary for the birth of ideas. A mind that’s occupied 24 hours loses its ability to be creative.
You may have noticed that several thoughts and ideas come to us when we lie down in bed to sleep because that’s the only few minutes your brain’s getting off things.
3. Create a schedule
A well-organized schedule can make the difference between a happy and an unhappy person.
If you can have a morning routine in which you give time to the most important things in your life such as mental and physical health, studying, writing, etc. it’s highly probable that you will win the day.
When you fail to prioritize tasks, you often end up scrolling on your couch and later feel depressed.
4. Stay active
Exercising 45 minutes a day can help you get rid of the couch scrolling.
Go for a run, pick up the skipping rope, do some yoga, or lift some weights. If you prefer walking, do it twice a day every day for 30–45 minutes.
It is one of the best feelings when you start your day nicely, and it helps you stay productive throughout the day.
5. Focus on real connections
Staying outside and focusing on real connections is a must if you don’t want to ruin your mental health.
Spending time with friends is a good alternative to spending time on a phone. For me, it’s always a stress reliever.
6. Engage in creative hobbies
Pick up one or two hobbies and make use of your free time productively. I used ChatGPT to come up with this list, and you can use that too to find something you would love to do during your free time because the options are endless.
- Photography
- Painting or Drawing
- Creative Writing
- DIY Crafts
- Graphic Design
- Music Composition
- Pottery or Ceramics
- Cooking or Baking
- Gardening
- Sculpture
- Calligraphy
- Film-making
- Digital Art
- Embroidery or Needlecraft
- Collage Art
- Dance
- Upcycling
- Acting
- Leathercraft
- Knitting
7. Use Medium, Quora, etc
When you open your phone, instead of going for short video content. Go to kindle, or medium, or Quora.
Reading builds focus, while scrolling ruins it.
If you don’t want to read, then the last alternative is long-form content with a timer of no more than 15–20 minutes.
This option worked the best for me.
8. Set time limits
This is really helpful. I reduced my cell phone usage by using these apps up to 30 minutes a day. I felt really great but now it gets a little hard to do 30 minutes because a lot of work is done using the phone, so I aim for 2 hours a day and zero scrolling.
I listen to audiobooks, read Quora and Medium, and keep 2 to 3 hard copies of books on my table to avoid scrolling. If my urge becomes too strong to scroll, I do 30 pushups, or if the schedule allows I go out for a walk.
✨ If you enjoyed this, consider subscribing to my newsletter.
And receive a free ebook with a collection of the best self-help books in different niches that will help you kick-start your self-improvement journey.
