Infinite scrolling and FOMO on social media trigger depression

With the shift of internet use into homes and the proliferation of social media platforms, the negative impacts of interface designs on user psychology have come to the fore again. Studies by Ludmila Lupinacci from the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds and Prof. Dr. Jon D. Elhai from the University of Toledo in the US reveal that the infinite scrolling trap and the fear of missing out are directly associated with stress, anxiety, and depression.

In the early days of the internet, the virtual world, accessed for limited durations, gradually entered our homes and settled at the center of daily life. While communication was at the forefront in the early years of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, today the trend is built upon where people go and what they do. Ludmila Lupinacci, a lecturer at the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds, stated that platform interfaces are designed to maximize time spent and engagement. Lupinacci emphasized that the infinite scrolling feature aims to make the user feel immersed in a continuous stream of content rather than consuming individual posts.

In the process where social media companies turn users into statistical data, the fear of missing out (FOMO) and anxiety are among the elements feeding the foundation of the system. A research article published by Dr. Jon D. Elhai, a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo in the US, and his colleagues reported that problematic social media use is linked to depression, anxiety, and stress. The research shows that individuals with a high degree of FOMO turn to smartphone and social media use in order to alleviate these fears.