Fixing an Addiction to Scrolling on Instagram

Infinite Scrolling: The Vortex Destroying Your Life

In 2006, infinite scrolling turned our lives upside down. No more clicking the “next” button for more content; the abyss stretched infinitely. Thanks to Aza Raskin, the man who unintentionally unleashed one of the most diabolical time-sucking monsters on humanity. Welcome to the **bottomless pit** of infinite scrolling—a relentless vortex that traps us with no escape in sight.

The Curse of Infinite Scrolling

Infinite scrolling is our modern “barrel of the Danaids,” a cursed mythological task doomed to never end. Imagine endlessly filling a jar that never fills up because of its leaky bottom. Raskin described his creation as a “bottomless glass” that keeps refilling, making us gulp down more and more without realizing. It’s a deadly cycle, a trap that’s got our brains hooked and begging for more.

Why Are We Addicted?

😵‍💫 The Trap of Addictive Design

In 2005, a sneaky study showed how people consumed 73% more soup from a bowl that magically refilled itself, compared to a regular bowl. The kicker? They didn’t even realize how much they were eating. This **addictive design** mirrors infinite scrolling. The endless stream of content disrupts our natural self-regulation, turning us into mindless zombies devouring content without any sense of satisfaction.

🌀 Lost in Temporal Distortion

Ever feel like time’s slipping away while you’re stuck in an infinite scroll? That’s **temporal distortion**. One video rolls into another, and you lose track of time. The loss of visual cues keeps us from recognizing how long we’ve been sucked into this endless loop. Social media giants use this to keep us glued to the screen, feeding our fear of missing out (FOMO) and stealing our precious hours.

🍬 Hooked on Dopamine Hits

Social media hijacks our brain’s reward circuit. A study by Laura Sherman in 2016 revealed how likes on photos trigger a dopamine rush in the nucleus accumbens, our brain’s pleasure center. Infinite scrolling’s unpredictable rewards supercharge this effect, making it even more addictive. Every scroll is a hit, a fix, a plunge deeper into this digital drug.

Breaking Free from the Abyss

"You're All Caught Up"—Yeah, Right!

Instagram tried to throw us a bone with the “You’re All Caught Up” message. But guess what? After that, they just feed us old posts and ads. It’s a trap! They play on our FOMO, keeping us hooked with the promise of life-changing content just one scroll away. Don’t fall for it. It’s up to YOU to decide when to disconnect.

⌛️ Lock Down Daily Use Limits

Don’t let Instagram control you. Set daily usage limits. Use Jomo to impose app time limits or limit the number of openings per day. Watch your friends’ stories in one go, and ditch the “For You” tab. Be intentional. Protect yourself from the addictive design and temporal distortion that keep you trapped in the scroll.

⏲️ Time to Put Instagram on a Timer

Take back control with tools like the Jomo app. Block Instagram by default and set breaks where you must consciously decide to use the app. Customize your breaks, maybe throw in a quick exercise before unlocking. Once your time’s up, Jomo re-blocks Instagram, cutting off your infinite scroll addiction and freeing you to focus on what really matters.

🧠 Get Mindfulness Going

Be mindful. Every time you open the app, ask yourself why. What are you looking for? Evaluate your screen time: What did you learn? Was it worth it? Use Jomo’s Screen Time Journaling to reflect on your usage. Track your activities, ensuring your screen time adds value rather than stealing it.

The Final Scroll

Instagram and other social media platforms are not your friends. They thrive on your time, feeding on every second you spend scrolling. Next time you find yourself lost in the abyss, ask yourself: Is this time worth it? Haven’t I seen enough? If the answer is yes, close the app. Break free from the bottomless pit of infinite scrolling. Save your time, save your mind.