Within the digital world, social media has become a part of every age, woven into the fabric of our lives. Whether it be at the grocery store or on a train, our lives are fully consumed with technology. We spend hours constantly scrolling for more information, but no one understands where this behavior comes from. Why do we choose to spend time comparing ourselves to what we find on the internet? We are completely aware that it’s all fake, so what draws us to this endless scrolling behavior? The answer lies within psychological factors, evolutionary instincts, and the design of the platforms.

Pleasure of scrolling

We tend to treat the act of scrolling like it’s a reward. Each time we open the app, we are given a fresh batch of content designed to hold our attention. As our fingers tire, our minds continue to race, anticipating what lies within the next scroll. This triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. The more time we spend online, the more dopamine our brains release. It creates a positive feedback loop that reinforces behavior, making us want to continue it.

Being fueled by the design of social media platforms, this cycle is in constant repeat. What you see online is specifically engineered to keep you engaged. Content has been tailored to your preferences and interests before it even reaches your screen. This creates a sense of personalization, making it even harder to peel away from your phone. The scrolling continues for hours without end, allowing us to waste our days on such a mindless activity.

Lost in the Scroll

So much of the world just passes by because of how addicted society is to phones. According to Sci-Tech-Today, “76% of the general adult population now exhibits a moderate to severe level of nomophobia, which is the intense fear of being without a mobile phone and 71% of U.S. teenagers report feeling anxious or irritable if they are separated from their devices for a surprisingly short duration of more than 30 minutes.” In March of 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled smartphone addiction as “a critical public mental health concern in over 54 countries.”

We forget how beautiful the atmosphere around us really is and how willingly we let go of precious moments for a couple of extra scrolls. Student Mateo Correa stated, “I always try my hardest to be present in the moment. The world is so beautiful, and there are so many different activities to participate in. A digital experience is nothing compared to the real thing.” It would be different if we were actually learning something, but each scroll just contains more comparisons to others. We are literally choosing to spend our time putting ourselves down.

Social Comparison Theory

At the peak of our social media experience there is a social comparison theory, which is a concept developed by psychologist Leon Festinger. The theory explains that humans are driven to evaluate themselves and when objective measures aren’t available, we turn to social comparison. We assess our abilities and worth by comparing it to others around the world. We see pictures of what seem like perfect lives and wish we were in their position. But at the end of the day it’s all filtered photos. The media only lets us see aspects of lives that are worth sharing, half of them aren’t even accurate.

Consequences

The consequences of social media comparison can be major. Not only does it lead to low self-esteem, but it can also cause depression. Some people even result to live threatening decisions because they feel as if their own lives aren’t worth living. An Anonymous student spoke about having to attend therapy due to the dangers of their scrolling. They stated, “Social media is as addictive as a drug. I found myself constantly comparing my life to others. Not only online but even in the real world. It left me with severe anxiety and depression. Days were spent lying in bed, wondering why I didn’t look like the girls on my phone. A growing desire to change everything about the person in the mirror took over. Eventually, my sense of identity faded, leaving me unsure of who I was anymore.”

Illusion of Perfection

Social media offers this illusion of perfection within every photo. People often present highly altered versions of themselves online that is far from reality. They carefully craft their images filtering out imperfections and choosing flattering angles. Platforms such as Instagram are proof of this illusion. Student Kayla Compton agreed stated, “My page always has to be aesthetically pleasing and what makes this possible is with how easy altering pictures can be. Even if the lighting just needs to be fixed, it’s very doable.” People all around the world have this exact same mindset.

What people fail to remember is the idea that behind every photo, the real person still lies there. The version of you that has insecurities and day to day challenges. You’re just being hidden by a filter.

Mental Health Impact

The constant exposure to altered realities can have a huge impact on mental health. Social media places immense pressure on people to be perfect, making its impact nearly unavoidable. Studies have linked heavy social media use to increased rates in areas including anxiety, depression, body image issues, and loneliness. The gyms are packed with people, but they aren’t there to get strong and feel good about themselves. People go to the gym in hopes to look like what they see online. When those unrealistic dreams seem far from reach, it leaves people feeling defeated. it’s unfortunate because there are so many different things to worry about other than experience. Theres no reason it should be affecting our mental health.

Social media can also contribute to something know as FOMO or the fear of missing out. That feeling you get watching all your friends’ stories while you’re just sitting at home in bed. Tapping the screen at each new highlight in someone’s day. You end up spending ours refreshing online, wanting to know how others are spending their time. It just makes you feel even more left out.

Social media has good aspects but overall, not so good. Between people comparing themselves constantly and wasting their time as life passes by, it’s not at all worth the frustration and sadness. teenagers these days even agree with the idea of going back in time to no phones or technology. Seems as if it was simpler times. People were happier, loved themselves, and made more memories.