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The Dangers of Doom Scrolling: How Social Media is Eroding Our Minds and Lives

In a world where overwork and underpayment have become the norm, many of us turn to social media as a quick escape, a way to numb the stress of daily life. But what if this habit is doing more harm than good? As a 25-year-old public health graduate facing the harsh realities of “slow firing” from a job due to poor corporate decisions, I’ve come to realize that social media isn’t just a distraction—it’s a carefully designed trap that’s making us dumber, less creative, and more enslaved to a system that thrives on our vulnerabilities.

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The Science of Stupidity

Studies have shown that excessive social media use, particularly doom scrolling, reduces gray matter in the brain—the part responsible for critical thinking, decision-making, and emotional regulation. The more time we spend mindlessly scrolling through endless feeds, the more our cognitive abilities erode. This isn’t just an opinion; it’s scientifically proven. Social media platforms are engineered to deliver constant dopamine hits, keeping us hooked like addicts chasing a high. The result? We’re becoming less capable of independent thought, more susceptible to manipulation, and increasingly disconnected from our own humanity.

The term “bed rotting” has emerged to describe the act of lying in bed for hours, scrolling through social media to cope with exhaustion and dissatisfaction. It’s glorified as self-care, but it’s a symptom of a deeper issue: we’re overworked, underpaid, and often stuck in jobs we hate. Social media exploits this vulnerability, targeting those who are most desperate for relief—people like me, who are struggling to pay rent while employers treat us like disposable commodities.

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Vulnerable Populations and the Digital Divide

As someone with a degree in public health, I’ve learned about the concept of vulnerable populations—groups disproportionately affected by systemic inequalities. Social media preys on these groups, particularly those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. A Substack article I read highlighted a stark disparity: children from wealthier families, despite having access to multiple screens, spend fewer hours on them compared to poorer kids who may only have a phone. The poorer you are, the more likely you are to doom scroll, and the more you doom scroll, the more you’re drawn into a cycle of consumerism and diminished critical thinking.

This cycle isn’t accidental. It’s a deliberate tactic by corporations to turn us into lifelong consumers. Consumerism, as I’ve come to see it, is the perfection of slavery. It keeps us chained to jobs we don’t want, buying things we don’t need, all to fill a void created by a system that profits from our insecurities. The richer you are, the less likely you are to fall into this trap, but for the rest of us, it’s a constant battle.

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Wage Slavery and the Consumer Trap

Wage slavery is a term that angers some people because it’s compared to more overt forms of slavery, but it’s a reality we can’t ignore. In the United States, the average worker gets just two weeks of vacation per year—if they’re lucky enough to have a job with benefits. For many, like me, taking time off means dipping into our own pockets and choosing not to work. This system keeps us tethered to jobs that don’t value us, forcing us to buy into a culture of consumerism to feel a fleeting sense of worth.

Take trends like Labubu dolls, driven by the ultra-rich to fuel their wealth while adding to global waste. These fads encourage us to buy meaningless products, many of which are made by exploited workers in countries like Guatemala, India, or China. The clothes we wear, the gadgets we use, and the toys we buy—they’re often produced by people living in conditions we’d never accept for ourselves. By participating in this cycle, we’re not just wage slaves; we’re complicit in a system that exploits others far worse off than us.

Breaking the Cycle: Crocheting as an Antidote

I’ve found a way to fight back: crocheting. It’s not just a hobby; it’s a rebellion against the mindless consumption of social media. Crocheting engages my hands, my eyes, and my brain in a way that’s both stimulating and rewarding. I’ve made a tank top, a GoPro case, and even a handle for my camera—things that make me feel alive and capable. Unlike doom scrolling, which leaves me feeling like a zombie, crocheting helps me reclaim my sense of self. I feel the neuroplasticity in my brain, the rewiring that comes from learning a skill and creating something tangible.

The book The Power of Habit (despite my dislike for the self-help industry) offers a valuable lesson: to break a bad habit, you need to replace it with a better one that satisfies the same need. For me, crocheting replaces the stimulation I sought from social media. It’s portable, doesn’t require much energy, and provides a dopamine hit from completing a project. It’s the perfect antidote to the blue light headaches and self-esteem crashes that come from comparing myself to influencers on Instagram.

Alternatives to Doom Scrolling

Crocheting isn’t the only way to break free. Here are some other activities to replace doom scrolling and reclaim your mind:

• Knitting: Like crocheting, it’s portable, creative, and engages your hands and brain.

• Zen Doodling: Carry a sketchbook and create intricate patterns to relax and focus.

• Journaling: Spend time reflecting on your thoughts instead of consuming others’.

• Meditation: Practice mindfulness to reconnect with yourself.

• Sudoku or Puzzles: Carry a puzzle book for a mental workout that doesn’t involve a screen.

• Calling a Friend: If you know someone who works from home, pick up the phone and connect.

These activities help you fight the addiction to social media by replacing it with something meaningful. They encourage critical thinking, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment—things that social media strips away.

The Bigger Picture: Fighting for a Better World

The stakes are high. Social media isn’t just making us dumber; it’s part of a larger system designed to keep us complacent and consumptive. The ultra-rich benefit from a hierarchy of slavery, where we’re the “lucky” ones who get to work meaningless JOB jobs and buy concert tickets, while others toil in cobalt mines or sweatshops. This system is a cancer, growing uncontrollably and destroying the planet for the profit of a few.

I’m angry—angry at my employer for slowly firing me to avoid paying severance, angry at a system that uses my taxes to fund harm, and angry that my student loans are about to accrue interest while I struggle to survive. But I’m also hopeful. By crocheting in a park in Baltimore, I’m taking a stand. I’m choosing to create instead of consume, to think instead of scroll, to fight instead of give in.

It’s not your fault that social media is addictive, that you’re overworked, or that the system is rigged. But it is your responsibility to do something about it. Delete those apps. Pick up a hobby. Think critically. Live intentionally. The least we can do is try to make this world a better place, one stitch at a time.

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